Canis Major - The Greater Dog
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Canis Major is the larger of Orion's two dogs, the other being Canis Minor. Canis Major's main highlight is Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. It is just 8.6 light years away from us. This star was used by the ancient Egyptians to predict the flooding of the Nile by noting its Helical rising, ie the date that it could be first seen in the morning sky. The only Messier object in Canis Major is the open cluster M41. On the right is Aspen's 1825 illustration of Canis Major.