Procyon
Product information
Description
Procyon radiates a steady yellow-white glow in the eastern sky during winter months in the Northern Hemisphere. As one corner of the Winter Triangle, it helps frame Orion and adds brilliance to the winter nightscape.
Additional Information
- Constellation
- Canis Minor
- Spectral Type
- F5IV–V
- Apparent Magnitude
- 0.34
- Distance (Light Years)
- 11.46
- Right Ascension
- 07h 39m 18.1s
- Declination
- +05° 13′ 30″
- Solar Masses
- 1.5
- Radius (Solar)
- 2.05
- Temperature (Kelvin)
- 6530
- Age (Million Years)
- 1500
Discovery
- Ancient Civilizations
- Greeks, Babylonians, Chinese, Arabs
- Historical Significance
- Procyon has been known since antiquity and was a key star in ancient celestial catalogs. Its name comes from the Greek 'Prokyon,' meaning 'before the dog,' referencing its rise shortly before Sirius, the Dog Star.
Cultural Significance
- Mythology
- In Greek mythology, Procyon was associated with a smaller dog following Orion, complementing Sirius in Canis Major. In Chinese astronomy, it was part of the Vermillion Bird of the South and known as 'Nan He,' the Southern River.
- Navigation
- Thanks to its brightness and proximity, Procyon was a vital navigational star for seafarers across many cultures. It remains one of the key stars used in celestial navigation.
- Modern Reference
- Procyon is part of the Winter Triangle asterism along with Sirius and Betelgeuse, and frequently appears in modern stargazing guides, astrophotography, and planetarium shows.
Notable Features
- Stellar Motion
- Procyon displays significant proper motion due to its relative closeness to Earth. It is part of a binary system with a faint white dwarf companion.
- Additional Fact
- Procyon is among the closest bright stars to Earth and is notable for being slightly more evolved than the Sun, in a transitional subgiant phase.
User Dedications
- Dedications
- This star has not been claimed yet. Be the first to dedicate it to someone special!