VY Canis Majoris
Also known as VY CMa
VY Canis Majoris is a red supergiant star in the constellation Canis Major, about 7,780 light-years from Earth.
Red hypergiant, one of the largest stars
Facts
| Type | Red supergiant star (spectral type M5Iae) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Canis Major |
| Position (J2000) | 7h 22m 58s, −25° 46′ |
| Distance | 7,780 light-years (its light set off about 7,780 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 8.69 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Studied in | 1,178 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
VY Canis Majoris is highest in the sky at midnight in January. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 44° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 14°. To see it you need binoculars.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Canis Major
- Adhara
- Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy
- Caroline's Cluster (NGC 2360)
- M41 (NGC 2287)
- Mirzam
- Sirius
- Thor's Helmet
- Wezen
Everything in Canis Major · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · Data sources & credits