Star profile

Pi Canis Majoris

3D likeness based on its real data · class F · ~6,500 K

What is Pi Canis Majoris

Pi Canis Majoris peeks quietly from the mantle of the Great Dog, 96 light-years away, not far from the searing glare of Sirius that dominates the region. It is a yellow-white F-type star, slightly hotter than the Sun and far steadier, one of those lights that go unnoticed by sheer contrast with its famous neighbour. Whoever learns to find it discovers the elegance of mid-sized stars: the silent backdrop of the northern winter sky, without which the great names would have no outline.

Where it is and when to see it

Pi 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 18° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 29° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 76° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 70° N.

It ranks no. 22 in brightness among the 90 stars of Canis Major in our catalogue. To find it, start from Sirius, the brightest: it lies about 4° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 97 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Pi Canis Majoris

Constellation: Canis Major
Apparent magnitude: 4.66
Distance: 96.5 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 103.906° · Dec -20.136°
Catalogue: HIP 33302 · HD 51199

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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