Star profile

Nu 3 Canis Majoris

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

What is Nu 3 Canis Majoris

Nu-3 Canis Majoris is an orange-yellow giant in the Great Dog, an evolved star most likely burning helium in its core after exhausting hydrogen. It carries a weak magnetic field and emits faint X-rays, signs that activity still moves across its weathered surface. At 421 light-years, it shines near the patch of sky where Sirius commands the winter night.

Where it is and when to see it

Nu 3 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 20° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 31° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 74° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 72° N.

It ranks no. 18 in brightness among the 90 stars of Canis Major in our catalogue. To find it, start from Sirius, the brightest: it lies about 2° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 420 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Nu 3 Canis Majoris

Constellation: Canis Major
Apparent magnitude: 4.42
Distance: 421.4 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 99.473° · Dec -18.237°
Catalogue: HIP 31700 · HD 47442

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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