Star profile

Epsilon Canis Minoris

3D likeness based on its real data · class G · ~5,500 K

What is Epsilon Canis Minoris

Epsilon Canis Minoris is a luminous yellow giant — a relative rarity, with a G6 IIb spectral class. At 1,042 light-years, it shines far more brightly than its modest apparent magnitude suggests. Its surface carries heavy isotopes forged in another, now-vanished star: a companion that went through the asymptotic giant phase, poured material onto its surface, and faded into a white dwarf. A two-act story written in its chemistry.

Where it is and when to see it

Epsilon Canis Minoris lies in the northern 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 48° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 59° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 47° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 81° S.

It ranks no. 6 in brightness among the 25 stars of Canis Minor in our catalogue. To find it, start from Procyon, the brightest: it lies about 5° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 1,000 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Epsilon Canis Minoris

Constellation: Canis Minor
Apparent magnitude: 4.99
Distance: 1042.2 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 111.412° · Dec 9.276°
Catalogue: HIP 36041 · HD 58367

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Other stars in Canis Minor

Canis Minor has 25 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 25 stars in Canis Minor