Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Canis Minor

Canis Minor was created in the 2nd century by an astronomer named Ptolemy. Its name is Latin for "The Lesser Dog". The included stars in this constellation are Procyon ("before the dog"), and Gomeisa ("the bleary eyed"). The hunting dogs of the Greek god Orion (Canis Major, and Canis Minor) have no relation to the constellation Bootes' dogs Canes Venatici. 


(In the picture above, I don't really see how these two dots in the sky can look like a "dog". Also in astronomy, notice there is no constellation depicting a domesticated cat.)

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