Star profile

Omega Canis Majoris

Variable star

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

What is Omega Canis Majoris

Omega Canis Majoris is a blue supergiant more than 900 light-years away, deep in the heart of the Greater Dog, not far from the white blaze of Sirius. It belongs to the Be class: a giant spinning so fast that it flings matter into a burning disc around itself, producing subtle but measurable swings in brightness. A young, violent star with all its drama still ahead.

Where it is and when to see it

Omega 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 12° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 23° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 83° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 63° N.

It ranks no. 12 in brightness among the 90 stars of Canis Major in our catalogue. To find it, start from Sirius, the brightest: it lies about 12° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 910 years ago.

Find it on the sky map

It opens in your browser. Free, no account, nothing to install.

Leave your signature on Omega Canis Majoris

Your name and a message go up on the map for everyone to read. Signing is free.

Without a lock, someone else can replace your signature. How the lock works

We'll ask for an email to confirm it's you, no password.

Write my signature

A public signature from a real person. The chosen name is a symbolic denomination within Stelvia, with no official standing or IAU recognition: the sky is not for sale and belongs to no one.

Astronomical data for Omega Canis Majoris

Constellation: Canis Major
Apparent magnitude: 4.01
Distance: 911.2 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 108.703° · Dec -26.773°
Catalogue: HIP 35037 · HD 56139

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