Orange giant · Canis Major

Nganurganity

Also known as: σ Canis Majoris (σ CMa), HIP 33856

mag 3.51,100 light-years

About

Nganurganity (σ Canis Majoris) is an orange giant of magnitude 3.5 in Canis Major, about 1,100 light-years away.

Nganurganity is in the constellation Canis Major.
Best evenings: around mid-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 52° 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.

EyesVisible from the suburbs on a clear night, but lost in bright city skies.
Binoculars (10×50)A sharp point; binoculars bring out its colour and the fainter stars around it.
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	Nganurganity
Designation	σ Canis Majoris (σ CMa)
Hipparcos number	HIP 33856
Type	Orange giant
Spectral type	K4III
Colour	Orange-redB−V colour index 1.73
Magnitude	3.5The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	1,100 light-yearsThe light you see left it around AD 900. Distances this large are uncertain by 10% or more.
Proper motion	0.008″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Canis Major
Right ascension (J2000)	07h 01m 43.2s
Declination (J2000)	−27° 56′ 05″

Star data: HYG Database by David Nash, CC BY-SA 4.0. All data sources →