Star · F0I
Canopus
Canopus is a supergiant star of spectral type F0I in the constellation Carina, 309.2 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | α Car · HIP 30438 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Carina |
| Distance | 309.2 light-years (94.8 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude −0.62 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −5.50 |
| Spectral type | F0I |
| Surface temperature | 8,450 K |
| Luminosity | 15,100 L☉ |
| Radius | 57.3 R☉ |
| Mass | 14.2 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 6h 23m 57.1s |
| Declination (J2000) | −52° 41′ 44″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 24.5 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude −0.62). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 37° N. South of latitude 37° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in December, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 1717. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 5.5 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around Canopus, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 9.71, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Draco. It would be invisible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- HIP 29094 13.2 light-years
- HIP 30183 13.4 light-years
- HIP 31957 15.0 light-years
- HIP 30213 16.2 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.