Canis Minor ( /ˌkeɪnɨs ˈmaɪnər/) is a small constellation in the celestial northern hemisphere. It was included in the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy's 48 constellations (although only with two stars identified), and is still counted among the 88 modern constellations. Its name is Latin for "smaller dog" in contrast to Canis Major, the larger dog—the two dogs commonly represented as following the constellation of Orion the hunter.
A small constellation, Canis Minor contains only two bright stars, Procyon (α CMi, 0.38m) and Gomeisa (β CMi, 2.9m). Procyon is the seventh brightest star in the night sky, as well as one of the closest. A yellow-white main sequence star, it has a white dwarf companion. Gomeisa is a blue-white main sequence star. Luyten's Star is a 9th magnitude red dwarf and the next closest stellar neighbour to our solar system after Procyon. Known as Thor's Helmet or the Duck Nebula, NGC 2359 is a 10th magnitude nebula surrounding a Wolf-Rayet star. There are two faint deep sky objects lie within the constellation's borders. The 11 Canis-Minorids are a meteor shower which can be seen in early December.
Read more about Canis Minor: Characteristics, History and Mythology
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