Procyon
star · Canis Minor · 0.4ᵐ
One of our nearest stellar neighbours at 11 light years. Like Sirius, it has a white dwarf companion.
Notable facts
About 174 times brighter than the faintest star visible to the naked eye.
In brief
Which constellation is Procyon in?
Procyon lies in Canis Minor.
Is Procyon visible to the naked eye?
0.4ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies).
When is the best time to observe Procyon?
Best observed in January.
Data
- RA / Dec (J2000)
- 7h 39m · +5° 13′
- Type
- star
- Constellation
- Canis Minor
- How to observe
- 0.4ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies)
- Spectral class
- F5IV-V — yellow-white star
- Absolute magnitude
- 2.7ᵐ
- Luminosity
- ≈7.3 × the Sun
- Distance
- ~11 light years
- Designation
- HIP 37279
Observing tip
Stars stay points at any magnification: aim your telescope for colour, brightness and companions, not detail.
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | 35° | 80° |
| +55° | 40° | 81° |
| +45° | 50° | 83° |
| +30° | 65° | 84° |
| 0° | 85° | 85° |
| −35° | 50° | 84° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 23:54 |
| February | 21:47 |
| March | 20:01 |
| April | 18:08 |
| May | 16:14 |
| June | 14:07 |
| July | 12:03 |
| August | 10:02 |
| September | 08:09 |
| October | 06:21 |
| November | 04:20 |
| December | 02:11 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.