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Canes Venatici

The Hunting Dogs

Constellation of the northern sky

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GenitiveCanum Venaticorum
AbbreviationCVn
Constellation FamilyUrsa Major
Celestial QuadrantNQ3
Right Ascension12h06 to 14h07
Declination+27.8° to +52.4°
Area (sq deg)465
Brightest StarCor Caroli
Optimum VisibilityApril
NotesCanes Venatici describes an area of the sky southeastward from the Plough or Big Dipper, falling between that formation and the brilliant star Arcturus in Boötes. This is not a prominent constellation (its brightest star, Cor Caroli, is only third magnitude) but it is home to an array of galaxies spread widely across this part of the sky.
Map of Canes Venatici Map of Canes Venatici
Relative Galactic Position of Canes Venatici

Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs, mark an area of the sky near the Northern Galactic Pole, and so they describe a slice of sky perpendicular to the plane of our Galaxy.

This rather indistinct star-group is home to a wide cluster of galaxies, but none of these are bright enough to be seen with the naked eye.

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