Canopus

Name : Canopus Designation : Alpha Carinae Constellation : Carina Apparent Magnitude : -0.7 Absolute Magnitude : -3.1 Distance : 313 light years Luminosity x Sun : 2000 Frontier Coordinates : 6,-6

The name Canopus is derived from Greek mythology. The constellation of Carina once belonged to a much larger group of stars called Argo Navis, or the ship Argo. This is claimed to be the ship which carried Greek troops home from the Trojan War and Canopus was the name of the ship's pilot. The star itself has been the subject of much uncertainty regarding its distance - some estimates putting it as far as 1200 ly. It is a F0 type star with a surface temperature of around 7500°C and remains one of the principal stars for spacecraft navigation.

Back to Star Data Page