Canis Major Constellation

Posted on by jperez1690

Observation Notes:

I think this constellation is awesome. So many bright stars in a small area, with Sirius piercing boldly at the top. Wezen showed an orange color. I apparently even picked out M41 naked eye. Not knowing the boundaries well, I picked up some stars from Columbia and Puppis. After a second look, I saw two orange-red stars–one just northeast of Adhara, and one northwest of Wezen on the west belly of the constellation. Also, Mirzam appeared blue.

Subject Canis Major
Classification Constellation
Date/Time January 30, 2005 – 10:00 PM MST (January 31, 2005 – 05:00 UT)
Observing Loc. Flagstaff, AZ – Home [111°39′ Long / 35°12′ Lat]
Instrument Naked eye
Eyepieces/Mag. N/A
Conditions P.Cloudy, 29°F
Seeing ~3/10
Transparency Mag 5.0 (Based on GSC 5392:2413 in Canis Major)

29 Replies to “Canis Major Constellation”

  2. Astronomy is kinda cool as you can find out more about different constellations. I heard that there are 88 different constellations in the sky.

  3. Amber, thanks for your comment. I’m glad you find constellations interesting. You are correct, there are 88 constellations. When you get the chance, try to track down Scorpius and Cygnus. They’re bright and stunning this time of year. Learning how to find constellations can be enjoyable all by itself, and once you know how to locate them, you can find the countless treasures they contain.
    Jeremy

  5. i am doing a report on this stuff. this is the most boaring constellation i have come a cross out of, pisces(my sign),orion,lupus,lepus,ursa minor/major and pegasus

  6. Amber and Keisha, I feel your pain. I hope the reports go well though. Although it is not my favorite constellation, Canis Major is actually pretty striking to see from a dark sky. My drawing does not do it justice.

  9. Canis Major
    by: Robert Frost
    The great Overdog
    That heavenly beast
    With a star in one eye
    Gives a leap in the east.
    He dances upright
    All the way to the west
    And never once drops
    On his forefeet to rest.
    I’m a poor underdog,
    But to-night I will bark
    With the great Overdog
    That romps through the dark.
    From “Complete Poems of Robert Frost”, 1916

  14. A few night’s ago I went out with the local astronomer’s club and found this constellation for the first time…
    I appreciate the poem by Robert Frost 🙂

  24. That’s one of the interesting thing about sketches, images or charts of the sky–since you are looking UP instead of down, the compass directions are reversed. As a result, west is clockwise from north when you look up. Thanks for posting the comment.

  25. Curious? Is Canis major a north or south hemisphere constellation and does the ’88’ include both in the total?? Get dazzled by stars when the street lights or clouds don’t hide them so so far have only picked out Orion’s belt (what the fuzzy patch just beneath his belt-I won’t tell you what I call it but it not in my book!), The big dipper/frying pan/great bear (take your pick) and the one shaped like a ‘w’ but I can’t remember it’s name! (my hubby pointed it out to me when we were courting and both our names began with W)

  26. Hi Lucy,
    Canis Major is located south of the celestial equator, however it is still visible from most populated locations in the Northern Hemisphere. The 88 constellations cover the entire sky–both north and south hemispheres.
    The W shaped constellation is Cassiopeia.

  28. im doing a report about this and i have to draw it and write its story about it this helped a quite lot 🙂

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