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Stick figure for Canis Major (CMa)
| Star | Mag | Spectral Type | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sirius | -1.44 | A0 · Blue-white main sequence | 8.6 ly | Greek for 'Glowing' or 'Scorching' — the brightest star in the night sky. The ancient Egyptians timed the Nile flood by its heliacal rising. |
| Adhara | 1.50 | B2 · Blue-white supergiant | 430 ly | Arabic for 'Virgins' — part of a group of stars once seen as a constellation of maidens guarding the sky. |
| Wezen | 1.83 | F8 · Yellow-white supergiant | 1600 ly | Arabic Al-Wazn, 'The Weight' — a yellow-white supergiant so massive that it barely moves across the sky, giving rise to its name. |
| Mirzam | 1.98 | B1 · Blue-white giant | 500 ly | Arabic Al-Mirzam, 'The Announcer' — rises just before Sirius, heralding the arrival of the brightest star in the sky. |
| Aludra | 2.45 | B5 · Blue supergiant | 3190 ly | Arabic Al-'Adhārā, 'The Virgins' — one of a group of stars in Canis Major representing maidens. An enormous blue supergiant. |