The Great Dog. Best placed in October. It lies south of the celestial equator and sits low for northern observers, better the further south you go.
Canis Major, known in English as the Great Dog, is centred near right ascension 6.5 hours, declination -26°. It lies south of the celestial equator and sits low for northern observers, better the further south you go.
It reaches its highest point in the sky around local midnight in October, which is when it is easiest to pick out. Earlier in the year it rises before dawn; later, it is already setting in the evening.
| Star | Designation | Magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Sirius | α CMa | -1.46 |
| Adhara | ε CMa | 1.50 |
| Saiph | κ Ori | 2.06 |
SkyRef draws Canis Major in its real position for wherever you are, right now, along with the other 88 IAU figures.