Aludra (Eta Canis Majoris)
Map © 2003 Torsten Bronger
A supergiant B star and the fifth brightest star in the constellation Canis Major.
Aludra is a blue B5Ia supergiant star. The diameter of the star is very approximately 100 times the solar diameter. The luminosity would be on the order of 100,000 times that of the sun.
Down below brilliant Sirius in Canis Major (as viewed from the northern hemisphere, up above it as seen from the southern) lies a notable triangle of bright stars made of Adhara (Epsilon Canis Majoris), Wezen (Delta), and Aludra (Eta).
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).
*Î- CMa: Aludra
Notable deep sky objects
There aren't many bright deep sky objects in this region of sky. The only Messier object in Canis Major is M41 (NGC 2287), an open cluster of visual magnitude 4.6.
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).
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) ...
Aludra Eta Canis Majoris
Alula Australis Xi Ursae Majoris
Alula Borealis Nu Ursae Majoris
Alwaid Beta Draconis
Alya Theta Serpentis
Alzir Xi Geminorum
Ancha Theta Aquarii
Angetenar Tau-2 Eridani
Ankaa Alpha Phoenicis
Antares Alpha Scorpii ...
 See also: Star, Canis Major, Adhara, Wezen, Sun
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