Star profile

Kappa Canis Majoris

Variable star

3D likeness based on its real data · class B · ~15,000 K

What is Kappa Canis Majoris

Kappa Canis Majoris pulses at 659 light-years, a variable blue giant set among the hounds that follow Orion across the winter sky. Its brightness breathes in subtle oscillations, the unmistakable signature of a star so massive and hot that its own atmosphere can barely hold it together. The light crossing our skies tonight first set out from there as the Renaissance was just beginning to lean into the Baroque.

Where it is and when to see it

Kappa 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 6° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 17° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 89° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 57° N.

It ranks no. 9 in brightness among the 90 stars of Canis Major in our catalogue. To find it, start from Sirius, the brightest: it lies about 16° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 660 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Kappa Canis Majoris

Constellation: Canis Major
Apparent magnitude: 3.50
Distance: 659.0 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 102.460° · Dec -32.508°
Catalogue: HIP 32759 · HD 50013

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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