θ Canis Majoris (theta Canis Majoris)

θ Canis Majoris is a giant star in the constellation of Canis Major.

θ Canis Majoris visual magnitude is 4.07. Because of its moderate brightness, θ 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 θ Canis Majoris:

Color of θ Canis Majoris ⬤

Magnitude of θ Canis Majoris 4.07

Class Giant

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

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of θ Canis Majoris

θ Canis Majoris is situated close to the celestial equator, as such, it is at least partly visible from both hemispheres in certain times of the year. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of θ Canis Majoris are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 06h 54m 11s

Declination J2000 -12° 02’ 18”

Galactic Longitude 223.98°

Galactic Latitude -4.85°

Constellation Canis Major

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

Finder chart θ Canis Majoris (theta Canis Majoris) star

Simplified finder chart for θ Canis Majoris (theta Canis Majoris).

Visibility of θ 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 θ Canis Majoris (theta 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: 102.0° RISE 13:57

Max altitude: 26.5° TRANSIT 18:54

Azimuth: 258.0° SET 23:50

RIGHT NOW θ Canis Majoris (theta Canis Majoris) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

Digitized Sky Survey image of θ Canis Majoris

The image below is a photograph of θ 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 θ Canis Majoris is -0.137 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.013 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of θ Canis Majoris (theta Canis Majoris) star

DSS2 image of θ Canis Majoris. The red arrow shows the motion of θ Canis Majoris during the next 1000 years (-2.28 arcmin in Right Ascension and -0.22 arcmin in declination);

Distance of θ Canis Majoris from the Sun and relative movement

θ Canis Majoris is distant 251.93 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 97 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 77.28 pc

Distance (light year) 251.93 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 97 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.137 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.013 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of θ Canis Majoris

θ Canis Majoris belongs to spectral class K4 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

Absolute magnitude -0.37

Spectral Type K4III

Color Index (B-V) 1.43

Temperature of θ Canis Majoris 3902K

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

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

Alternative designations of θ Canis Majoris

Bayer designation θ Canis Majoris
(theta Canis Majoris)

Flamsteed designation 14 Canis Majoris

Henry Draper Catalogue HD50778

SAO Catalogue SAO152071

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP33160

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD-11 1681

FK5 Catalogue 266

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In Evidence

Other stars in Canis Major