Yellow-white supergiant · Carina

Canopus

Also known as: α Carinae (α Car), HIP 30438

mag −0.6310 light-years

About

Canopus (α Carinae) is a yellow-white supergiant of magnitude −0.6 in Carina, about 310 light-years away.

Canopus is in the constellation Carina.
Best evenings: around early February it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from south of 27° N.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesOne of the brightest stars in the whole sky — easy even from a city centre.
Binoculars (10×50)Dazzling, with its colour stronger than to the eye.
Telescope (6–8 inch)Still a point of light at any magnification — stars are too far away to show a disc. Low in the sky, bright stars twinkle and flash colours.

Stars look the same in any instrument: brighter and sharper, but never bigger.

Proper name	Canopus
Designation	α Carinae (α Car)
Hipparcos number	HIP 30438
Type	Yellow-white supergiant
Spectral type	F0Ib
Colour	Yellowish whiteB−V colour index 0.16
Magnitude	−0.6The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	310 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1720.
Proper motion	0.031″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Carina
Right ascension (J2000)	06h 23m 57.1s
Declination (J2000)	−52° 41′ 45″