Are you able to see Canopus?
For those who keep at latitudes like these within the northern U.S., you’ll by no means see Canopus. That’s why this star has change into a holy grail of types for some Northern Hemisphere skywatchers, who take winter holidays at southerly latitudes (like these within the southern U.S.), simply to catch a glimpse of it. From latitudes like these within the southern U.S., Canopus – the sky’s 2nd-brightest star – seems as a vibrant mild nearer to the horizon than Sirius (the sky’s brightest star). For these southerly observers, Canopus and Sirius arc throughout the south collectively on February evenings.
Will you see Canopus? It relies upon, principally, on how far south you might be, and what time of 12 months you’re wanting. Canopus by no means rises above the horizon for areas north of about 37 degrees north latitude. In the USA, that line runs from roughly Richmond, Virginia; westward to Bowling Inexperienced, Kentucky; by means of Trinidad, Colorado and onward to San Jose, California. Right here’s a list of global locations at the 37th parallel north. You have to be south of that line to see Canopus.
February evenings are preferrred
Proper now, February evenings are an ideal time to search for Canopus. Then, this star is at its highest within the sky round 9 p.m. your native time (the time in your clock regardless of the place you might be on the globe). From the Northern Hemisphere, Canopus seems within the southern sky nearly immediately south of Sirius. When Sirius is at its highest level to the south, Canopus is about 36 degrees under it.
For observers within the Southern Hemisphere, it’s a wholly completely different story. From latitudes south of the equator, each Canopus and Sirius seem increased within the sky. Certainly, they’re like twin beacons crossing overhead collectively.
For positive, the sight of them is sufficient to make a northern observer envy the southern skies!
Canopus in science fiction
In Frank Herbert‘s 1965 novel Dune and different novels in his Dune universe, the fictional planet Arrakis is an unlimited desert world. It’s house to sandworms and Bedouin-like people referred to as the Fremen. It’s the third planet from an actual star in our night time sky. That star is Canopus.
In Herbert’s novel, the desert planet Arrakis is the one supply of “spice,” crucial and beneficial substance within the Dune universe. This “spice” is what makes star journey potential, on this fictional universe.
It’s potential, in line with Wikipedia (which references the well-known e-book Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning by Richard Hinckley Allen), that Herbert was influenced in his selection of this star as the first for Arrakis by a typical etymological derivation of the identify Canopus:
… as a Latinization (by means of Greek Kanobos) from the Coptic Kahi Nub (“Golden Earth”), which refers to how Canopus would have appeared over the southern desert horizon in historical Egypt, reddened by atmospheric absorption.
And it’s true … from a lot of the classical world in historical occasions, Canopus would have appeared low within the sky, when it was seen in any respect. And so, sure, its vibrant mild can be reddened on account of it by means of a higher thickness of environment within the route towards the horizon. Simply as, for instance, our sun or moon seen low within the sky appears to be like redder than common. Golden Earth certainly.
By the best way, though Arrakis is fictional, Canopus will not be solely very actual but in addition a lot hotter and bigger than our sun. See the Science section below.
Science of Canopus
In accordance with knowledge obtained by the Hipparcos Space Astrometry Mission, Canopus is about 310 light-years away.
Spectroscopically, it’s an F0 type star, making it considerably hotter than our sun (roughly 13,600 levels Fahrenheit or 7,500 levels Celsius) at its floor. That is in comparison with about 10,000 levels F or 5,500 levels C for the sun.
Canopus additionally has a luminosity class score of II, which makes it a “vibrant big” star a lot bigger than the sun. (Some classifications make it a sort Ia “supergiant.”)
If the sun and Canopus had been aspect by aspect, it could take about 71 suns, altogether, to suit throughout Canopus. Canopus seems considerably much less vibrant than Sirius, however it’s a lot brighter, blazing with the brilliance of 10,000 suns!
Though its actual age is unknown, Canopus’ nice mass dictates that this star have to be close to the top of its lifetime. It’s doubtless a couple of million to a couple tens of thousands and thousands of years previous. In comparison with our sedate middle-aged 5-billion-year-old sun, Canopus has lived within the stellar quick lane and is destined to die younger.
Historical past and mythology
Canopus can also be referred to as Alpha Carinae, the brightest star within the constellation Carina the Keel. This constellation was once thought of a part of Argo Navis, the ship of Jason and his famed Argonauts, as seen in our sky. Canopus initially marked a keel or rudder of this historical celestial ship. Alas, the good Argo Navis constellation not exists. Fashionable imaginations see it as damaged into three elements: the Keel (Carina, of which Canopus is an element), sails (Vela) and the poop deck (Puppis).
For these far sufficient south to see it, Canopus was a star of nice significance from historical occasions to fashionable occasions as a main navigational star. That is, absolutely, on account of its brightness.
The origin of the identify Canopus is topic to query. By some accounts it’s the identify of a ship’s captain from the Trojan War. One other idea is that it’s from historical Egyptian which means Golden Earth, a potential reference to the star’s look as seen by means of atmospheric haze close to the horizon from Egyptian latitudes.
The place of Canopus is RA: 6h 23m 57s, Dec: -52° 41′ 45″
Backside line: Canopus is the 2nd-brightest star as seen from Earth. To see Canopus, you should both be within the Southern Hemisphere or under the Northern Hemisphere’s thirty seventh parallel north.
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