Other Names:
- Suhel
- Suhail
- Alpha Carinae
- HR 2326
- HD 45348
Data:
- Right Ascension: 06 23 57.1
- Declination: -52 41 45
- Apparent Magnitude: -0.72
- Absolute Magnitude: -2.5
- Distance: 74 LY
- Spectral Type: F0II
Constellation:
Canopus Information:
Canopus is the second brightest star in the sky. Its name either comes from an ancient city in northern Egypt, located east of Alexandria or the helmsman for Menelaus. Menelaus was the king of Sparta during the Trojan war. He was brother of Agamemnon and married to Helen, the cause of the war. Canopus is so bright it is used as a reference point for navigation of spacecraft launched on interplanetary missions. It is located in the southern sky and not visible north of Norfolk, VA. Canopus is located in the constellation Carina. It is part of the keel of the ship Argo.