*** Welcome to piglix ***

Canopus (star)

Canopus
Canopus.jpg
An image of Canopus by Expedition 6
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Carina
Pronunciation /kəˈnpəs/
Right ascension 06h 23m 57.10988s
Declination −52° 41′ 44.3810″
Apparent magnitude (V) −0.74
Characteristics
Spectral type A9 II
U−B color index +0.10
B−V color index +0.15
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv) 20.3 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: 19.93 mas/yr
Dec.: 23.24 mas/yr
Parallax (π) 10.55 ± 0.56mas
Distance 310 ± 20 ly
(95 ± 5 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV) –5.71
Details
Mass 8.0 ± 0.3 M
Radius 71 ± 4 R
Luminosity 10,700 L
Surface gravity (log g) 1.64 ± 0.05 cgs
Temperature 6,998 K
Metallicity [Fe/H] –0.07 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i) 8.0 km/s
Other designations
Suhayl, Suhel, Suhail, Alpha Carinae, CD−52°914, FK5 245, GC 8302, HD 45348, HIP 30438, HR 2326, SAO 234480
Database references
SIMBAD data

Canopus (/kəˈnpəs/), also designated Alpha Carinae (α Carinae, abbreviated Alpha Car, α Car), is the brightest star in the southern constellation of Carina, and the second brightest star in the night-time sky, after Sirius. Canopus's visual magnitude is −0.74, and it has an absolute magnitude of −5.71.

Canopus is a bright giant of spectral type A9, so it is essentially white when seen with the naked eye. It is located in the far southern sky, at a year 2000 declination of −52° 42′ and a right ascension of 06h 24.0m.

Its name is generally considered to originate from the mythological Canopus, who was a navigator for Menelaus, king of Sparta (see below).

In Indian Vedic literature, the star Canopus is associated with the sage Agastya, one of the ancient rishis (the others are associated with the stars of the Big Dipper). Agastya, the star, is said to be the 'cleanser of waters' and its rising coincides with the calming of the waters of the Indian Ocean. It is considered the son of Pulasthya, son of Brahma.


...
Wikipedia

...