κ Canis Majoris (kappa Canis Majoris)

κ Canis Majoris is a variable sub-giant star in the constellation of Canis Major.

κ Canis Majoris visual magnitude is 3.96. Because of its moderate brightness, κ Canis Majoris should be easily visible from locations with dark skyes, while it can be barely visible, or not visible at all, from skyes affected by light pollution.

The table below summarizes the key facts about κ Canis Majoris:

Color of κ Canis Majoris ⬤

Magnitude of κ Canis Majoris 3.96

Class Sub-giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW κ Canis Majoris (kappa Canis Majoris) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change].

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of κ Canis Majoris

κ Canis Majoris is situated south of the celestial equator, as such, it is more easily visible from the southern emisphere. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of κ Canis Majoris are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 06h 49m 50s

Declination J2000 -32° 30’ 30”

Galactic Longitude 242.36°

Galactic Latitude -14.49°

Constellation Canis Major

The simplified sky map below shows the position of κ Canis Majoris in the sky:

Finder chart κ Canis Majoris (kappa Canis Majoris) star

Simplified finder chart for κ Canis Majoris (kappa Canis Majoris).

Visibility of κ Canis Majoris from your location

Location: Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London

Today's κ Canis Majoris (kappa Canis Majoris) rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change] are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 122.5° RISE 16:40

Max altitude: 6.0° TRANSIT 19:06

Azimuth: 237.5° SET 21:32

RIGHT NOW κ Canis Majoris (kappa Canis Majoris) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

Digitized Sky Survey image of κ Canis Majoris

The image below is a photograph of κ Canis Majoris from the Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS2 - see the credits section) taken in the red channel. The area of sky represented in the image is 0.5x0.5 degrees (30x30 arcmins). The proper motion of κ Canis Majoris is -0.007 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and 0.004 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 100000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of κ Canis Majoris (kappa Canis Majoris) star

DSS2 image of κ Canis Majoris. The red arrow shows the motion of κ Canis Majoris during the next 100000 years (-11.67 arcmin in Right Ascension and 6.67 arcmin in declination);

Distance of κ Canis Majoris from the Sun and relative movement

κ Canis Majoris is distant 789.35 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 14 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 242.13 pc

Distance (light year) 789.35 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 14 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.007 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec 0.004 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of κ Canis Majoris

κ Canis Majoris belongs to spectral class B1 and has a luminosity class of IV corresponding to a sub-giant star.

Absolute magnitude -2.96

Spectral Type B1IV

Color Index (B-V) -0.23

Temperature of κ Canis Majoris 14354K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where κ Canis Majoris is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

H-R diagram showing the position of κ Canis Majoris. Attribution: Richard Powell / CC BY-SA

Alternative designations of κ Canis Majoris

Bayer designation κ Canis Majoris
(kappa Canis Majoris)

Flamsteed designation 13 Canis Majoris

Henry Draper Catalogue HD50013

SAO Catalogue SAO197258

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP32759

Durchmusterung Catalogue CD-32 3404

FK5 Catalogue 1180

General Catalogue of Variable Stars Kap CMa

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Other stars in Canis Major