The Majestic Stars of Canis Major

The constellation Canis Major is one of the most recognizable and famous constellations in the night sky. It is best known for its brightest star, Sirius, which is also the brightest star in the entire sky.

Sirius

Sirius is a binary star system, consisting of a main-sequence star (Sirius A) and a white dwarf (Sirius B) that orbits around it. Sirius A is about twice the size of the Sun and 25 times more luminous, making it one of the most prominent stars in the night sky. Sirius B is a faint companion star that can only be seen with a telescope.

Mirzam

Mirzam is another binary star system in Canis Major, with two main-sequence stars that orbit each other. The primary star (Mirzam A) is very similar in size and mass to Sirius A, and the secondary star (Mirzam B) is slightly smaller. The two stars orbit around each other every 5.5 days.

Wezen

Wezen is a supergiant star located in the western part of Canis Major. It is one of the largest and brightest stars known, with a radius estimated to be 200-250 times that of the Sun. Its luminosity is also estimated to be around 100,000 times greater than that of the Sun. Wezen is also part of a triple star system, with two faint companion stars that orbit around it.