Adhara
Related Category: Astronomy: Stars
(dhâr´), bright star in the constellation Canis Major; Bayer designation &egr; Canis Majoris; 1992 position R.A. 6h58.3m, Dec. −31°54&minut;.
Adhara (Epsilon Canis Majoris)
The second brightest star in the constellation Canis Major.
ADHARA (Epsilon Canis Majoris). The names of all the first magnitude stars ring clearly to us; even the names of those in the southern hemisphere are well known. Adhara has escaped the fame it deserves.
Adhara is a blue B2II bright giant approximately 11 times the diameter of the sun.
Adhara (ε CMa), Aludra (η CMa), Furud (ζ CMa), Menkelb Prior (ο1 CMa), Menkelb Posterior (ο2 CMa), Mirzam, (Murzim, β CMa), Muliphein (γ CMa), Sirius (Dog Star, α CMa), Wezen (δ CMa).
It can be found: east of Sirius; southwest of Procyon; northeast of Wezen (Delta Canis Majoris), Aludra (Eta Canis Majoris), and Adhara (Epsilon Canis Majoris); and north of Naos (Zeta Puppis).
*ε CMa: Adhara - "Virgins"
*ζ CMa: Furud - "Bright Single One"
*Î- CMa: Aludra
Notable deep sky objects
There aren't many bright deep sky objects in this region of sky.
Adhara (B2) magnitude 1.5
Aldebaran (K5) magnitude 0.9
Alnath (B7) magnitude 1.65
Pollux (K0) magnitude 1.1
Castor (A0) magnitude 1.6
Alhena (A0) magnitude 1.9
Tejat (M3) magnitude 2.9
Capella (G8) magnitude 0.1
Menkarlina (A2) magnitude 1.9 ...
Named stars: Alpha CMa (Sirius/Alhabor), Beta CMa (Mirzam), Gamma CMa (Muliphein), Delta CMa (Wezen), Epsilon CMa (Adhara), Zeta CMa (Phurud/Aludra)
Info:
Canis Minor (Small Dog) ...
Another double is epsilon CMa: Adhara (meaning: the virgins). The blue giant of 1.5 mag has an 8th mag companion which is difficult to observe as it nearly vanishes in the glare of the main star.
 See also: Star, Canis Major, Second, Sirius, Sun
|
