Canis Minor is the smaller of two constellations said to represent dogs. The name Canis Minor is Latin for Lesser Dog. The larger constellation is Canis Major, the Greater Dog. Canis Minor is a constellation of the Southern Hemisphere. It can be best viewed from December through February. It is bordered by the constellations Cancer, Gemini, Hydra, and Monoceros. Canis Minor was among the 48 constellations defined by the ancient Greek mathematician Ptolemy. Today, it is one of 88 constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the leading authority in the naming of heavenly objects.
As commonly drawn, Canis Minor is the simplest of the 88 constellations, consisting of only the two stars Procyon and Gomeisa. Procyon is the brighter of the two. It is the eighth brightest star in Earth’s night sky (see Procyon ).
In Greek mythology, Canis Minor is associated with several well known figures. The dog is mentioned in some stories as belonging to the hero Orion. It is also sometimes associated with the tragic figure Actaeon.
