Star profile

Nu 2 Canis Majoris

3D likeness based on its real data · class K · ~4,200 K

What is Nu 2 Canis Majoris

Nu-2 Canis Majoris is one of the relatively nearby stars of the Great Dog, only 64 light-years away. It is an orange K-type giant whose warm glow contrasts with the blue-white blaze of Sirius, the dazzling neighbor that rules the constellation. Far from that fire, this quiet light marks the southern corner of the Dog, a stellar ember aging patiently while Sirius steals every winter glance.

Where it is and when to see it

Nu 2 Canis Majoris lies in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is January, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 19° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 30° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 75° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 71° N.

It ranks no. 11 in brightness among the 90 stars of Canis Major in our catalogue. To find it, start from Sirius, the brightest: it lies about 3° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 64 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Nu 2 Canis Majoris

Constellation: Canis Major
Apparent magnitude: 3.95
Distance: 64.4 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 99.171° · Dec -19.256°
Catalogue: HIP 31592 · HD 47205

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Other stars in Canis Major

Canis Major has 90 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 90 stars in Canis Major