The constellation Canis Major has been recognized since ancient times and is referred to in the mythologies of several civilizations, particularly those of the Greeks and Egyptians. Many people know this constellation by hearing it, but not everyone knows about its history, location and importance.
For this reason, we are going to tell you in this article everything you need to know about the Canis Major constellation.
Location of Canis Major
This particular formation, which is one of the most distinct and identifiable constellations to be seen in the night sky, is famous for containing Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, which is often referred to as "the Dog Star." Located southeast of the constellation Orion, it occupies an important place in celestial observation.
In ancient Egypt, the star Sirius was known as Sothis and had an important connection to the Nile River and its seasonal flooding patterns. The appearance of Sirius in the pre-dawn sky signaled the onset of the Nile flooding, an essential event for the agricultural practices of the Egyptians.
To locate it, Sirius must first be identified, which It is the brightest star in the night sky, located southeast of the constellation Orion. Sirius can be found roughly along the downward extension of Orion's Belt.
Mythology and history of Canis Major
Amphitryon, Heracles' stepfather, began a military campaign against the Teleboans and invited Creon, the king of Thebes, to participate. Creon agreed to join the venture, provided that Amphitryon first rid Thebes of a wild fox that was wreaking havoc.
However, despite Amphitryon's efforts, no one managed to capture it, as the fox was destined to remain elusive. As Thebes continued to be plagued by the fox, the citizens of Thebes would, on a monthly basis, present one of their own as a sacrifice. This practice was an attempt to deter the fox from claiming more victims.
Thus Amphitryon traveled to Athens to visit Cephalus, the son of Deioneus, and successfully persuaded him to bring his dog Lalap to chase the fox, in exchange for a share of the spoils from the campaign against the Teleboans.
Laelapes was the canine companion of Procris, the deceased wife of Cephalus, who, in turn, had received the dog from Minos. This particular dog possessed the unique characteristic of being destined to catch any creature it pursued.
As a result, when the day of the hunt finally arrived, Lalapes chased the fox, which led to endless pursuit and evasion.
Given these circumstances, Zeus was forced to turn both individuals into stone. Thus, the paradox of the fox destined to evade capture while being pursued by a dog destined to always catch its prey was effectively resolved.
Thus, the story of the dog and the fox has been eternally enshrined in the heavens within the constellation Canis Major, which symbolizes Lalapes, the extraordinary canine.
main stars of the constellation
Sirius, the brightest star in Canis Major, is a remarkable binary star located just 8,6 light-years from Earth. It is distinguished by being the brightest star visible in the night sky and represents an astronomical object of great interest.
Sirius, also known as Alpha Canis Majoris.
Sirius, with a visual magnitude of -1,46, has the distinction of being the brightest star in the night sky. This brightness can be attributed to its relative closeness to Earth, located approximately 8,6 light-years away, as well as its considerable intrinsic luminosity. Classified as a blue-white star, Sirius falls into the spectral type A1V.
This star is significantly larger and more massive than our Sun. With a mass roughly twice that of the Sun, its diameter measures about 1,7 times that of the Sun.
Sirius is accompanied by a companion called Sirius B, also known as the “Pupil.” This companion is a white dwarf, which has a mass comparable to that of the Sun, but its size is equivalent to that of the Earth. The visibility of this star is significantly hampered by the intense luminosity emitted by its neighbor, Sirius.
A white dwarf represents a high-density dead star, formed from the expansion of a larger star that has exhausted its fuel. Sirius, classified as a massive star, will undergo a transition to a red giant phase before its eventual transformation into a white dwarf, similar to its companion, Sirius B.
Adhara, also known as Epsilon Canis Majoris
Adhara, with an apparent magnitude of about 1,5, It is a remarkably bright star, being the second brightest in the constellation Canis Major, after Sirius. Its luminosity is 38.000 times that of the Sun, which places it among the brightest stars in our galaxy.
Adhara, classified as a blue-white star of spectral type B2.5, is located at a distance of approximately 430 light-years from Earth. It is a colossal star, whose mass is estimated to be approximately 12 times that of the Sun. In addition, its diameter is significantly larger than that of the Sun.
The term "Adhara" comes from Arabic and means "virgin" or "maiden." Different cultures have attributed different meanings and mythologies to this star.
Adhara is accompanied by a close companion known as Adhara B, although this companion remains difficult to observe directly due to the intense glow emitted by Adhara.
Wezen, also known as Delta Canis Majoris
Wezen is an exceptionally bright star, exhibiting an apparent magnitude ranging from 1,83 to 1,89, which places it among the brightest stars in the constellation Canis MajorThe name of this star comes from Arabic and means "weight" or "balance."
This star is classified as a supergiant of spectral type F8Ia and is located about 1.800 light-years from Earth. It radiates a yellowish-white light characteristic of F-type stars. However, its exceptional luminosity and size distinguish it as a supergiant.
Wezen is certainly a star of considerable size and mass. Its estimated diameter is about 200 times that of the Sun, and its mass is about 20 times greater. In addition, Its luminosity is exceptionally high, estimated to be around 75.000 times brighter than that of the Sun.
As a supergiant star, Wezen has reached an advanced stage in its stellar evolution and is destined to transform into a supernova in the distant future.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Canis Major constellation and its characteristics.