9 lines
886 B
Markdown
9 lines
886 B
Markdown
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name: Canopus (α Car)
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constellation: Car
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created_by: 8mag
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created_date: 2022-01-21 17:00:00
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updated_by: skybber
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updated_date: 2022-01-23 09:59:41.769903
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---
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the main star of the constellation, but also once of the entire Argo ship as α Argus, whose helm it marked. Being at the very northwestern edge of the constellation, as an orange star it could be seen from as far north as North Africa, low over the southern horizon. During the local winter, it culminates about 20 minutes before the actual spread from the Big Dog. Canopus is a yellow supergiant of spectral class FO, its brightness of -0.8mag making it the second brightest star in the sky after the spread. It is 313 light-years away from the Sun and is 200,000 times more luminous by contrast. Interestingly, it lies quite far from the ecliptic, which is why most interplanetary satellites use it to navigate in space. |