9 lines
896 B
Markdown
9 lines
896 B
Markdown
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name: Canopus (α Car)
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constellation: Car
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created_by: editor.cs
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created_date: 2023-11-07 09:15:58.863800
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updated_by: editor.cs
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updated_date: 2023-11-07 09:15:58.863803
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---
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The main star of the constellation, but once also the entire Argo Navis, is α Argus, which represented the helm. As it is located on the very northwestern edge of the constellation, as an orange star it could be seen from as far as northern Africa low above the southern horizon. During the local winter, it culminates about 20 minutes before Sirius in Canis Major. Canopus is a yellow supergiant of spectral class FO, with its brightness of -0.8mag, it is the second brightest star in the sky after Sirius. It is 313 light-years away from the Sun and is 200,000 times more luminous than it. Interestingly, it is located far from the ecliptic, which is why most interplanetary satellites use it for spatial orientation. |