Sirius
star · Canis Major · -1.4ᵐ
The brightest star in the night sky, just 8.6 light years away. Sirius has a companion — the Earth-sized white dwarf Sirius B.
Notable facts
About 947 times brighter than the faintest star visible to the naked eye.
In brief
Which constellation is Sirius in?
Sirius lies in Canis Major.
Is Sirius visible to the naked eye?
-1.4ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies).
When is the best time to observe Sirius?
Best observed in December.
Data
- RA / Dec (J2000)
- 6h 45m · −16° 43′
- Type
- star
- Constellation
- Canis Major
- How to observe
- -1.4ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies)
- Spectral class
- A0m... — white star
- Absolute magnitude
- 1.4ᵐ
- Luminosity
- ≈22 × the Sun
- Distance
- ~9 light years
- Designation
- HIP 32349
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° | 13° | 125° |
| +55° | 18° | 120° |
| +45° | 28° | 114° |
| +30° | 43° | 109° |
| 0° | 73° | 107° |
| −35° | 72° | 111° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 23:00 |
| February | 20:52 |
| March | 19:07 |
| April | 17:14 |
| May | 15:19 |
| June | 13:13 |
| July | 11:09 |
| August | 09:08 |
| September | 07:15 |
| October | 05:26 |
| November | 03:26 |
| December | 01:17 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.