Get to know Canopus, the Brightest Star in the Sky

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Among the stars scattered in the night sky, there are the brightest stars. Sirius, the first brightest star. After that there is Canopus or Alfa Carinae. Here’s everything about Canopus, the second brightest star in the sky:

The history of the name Canopus Launches the LAPAN Space Science Education page, December 29, 2020, the name Canopus comes from one of the ship’s navigators named Canobus who worked for King Menelaus of Sparta during the Trojan War.

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According to the story, Canobus was killed by a snake bite, so King Menelaus made a monument to commemorate Canobus’ services on one of the lower reaches of the Nile.

Then some time later stood the City Canobus. Meanwhile, Space launches, Canopus seen in Greece, where the star is named. The story of Canobus and King Menelaus is a Greek legend.

Canobus was bitten by a poisonous snake when his ship came to Egypt. In honor of Canobus, Menelaus gave the ship’s navigator the name of the port and the name of the bright star.

What is Canopus?

Star Canopus is the main star located in the constellation Carina (hull). Its visual brightness is -0.74 and belongs to the spectrum class A9II, meaning that this star is a bright giant star (class II) with type A9. Canopus is 310 light years away and is 71 times the size of the sun.

Finding Canopus

Canopus It is the most visible bright star in the Southern Hemisphere. This star is a fairly rare breed. Canopus’ southern location (not visible above about 37 degrees north) means it is not visible in most of Europe.

Location Canopus are: Right ascension: 6 hours 23 minutes 57.1 seconds Declination: -52 degrees 41 minutes 45 seconds. This star never sets for observers at latitude 37 degrees LS (South latitude) or more. This star also never rises to observers at latitude 37 degrees LU (North latitude) or more.

According to Britannica, Canopus It is sometimes used as a guide in controlling the attitude of a spacecraft, due to its angular distance from the sun and the contrast in brightness between nearby celestial bodies.

Meanwhile, the Stoic philosopher from Syria, Posidonius, used the sighting of Canopus near the horizon in his estimation of the size of the Earth.

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