Star profile

Sirius

Alpha Canis Majoris · Canis Major

Nearby star

3D likeness based on its real data · class A · ~8,500 K

What is Sirius

Sirius blazes a mere 8.6 light-years away: the light reaching tonight's sky left less than a decade ago. Egyptian priests watched for it before dawn, since its heliacal rising heralded the Nile's flood and another year of harvest. It is the brightest star of the terrestrial night —a single white beacon to the naked eye— yet since 1862 we have known it harbours a quiet white-dwarf companion, drowned in the glare of its brilliant partner.

Where it is and when to see it

Sirius lies in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is one of the brightest stars in the sky: visible even from a city. Its best month of the year is January, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 22° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 33° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 73° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 73° N.

It is the brightest of the 90 stars of Canis Major in our catalogue, which makes it the best starting point for finding your way around the constellation.

The light you see today left it about 9 years ago.

Find it on the sky map

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Astronomical data for Sirius

Constellation: Canis Major
Apparent magnitude: -1.44
Distance: 8.6 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 101.287° · Dec -16.716°
Catalogue: HIP 32349 · HD 48915

A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.

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