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Sky-Tonight.com / Constellations / Canis Minor
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Observation Settings

Or select it on the map:
This Earth map lets you select the observer’s location used to calculate the bearing and elevation of celestial objects. The selected point determines how the sky, rise and set times, and object positions are shown.
Your location: Santa Clara, United States
Timezone:
Latitude:
37.3541
Longitude:
-121.955

Canis Minor Constellation

Double-click to unlock the map.
Canis Minor, the lesser dog, is a small constellation in the northern sky, containing the bright star Procyon, part of the Winter Triangle asterism.

Canis Minor Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
Canis Minor transit09:0059°
Moonrise, 21% illuminated 09:4957°
Canis Minor set15:19
Astronomical observing session begins18:57-38°
Moonset20:26-45°
Canis Minor rise02:37
Astronomical observing session ends03:2610°
Civil sunrise03:5916°
Sunrise04:2822°

Track Canis Minor Position Throughout the Night

← 18 August 2026 →

Elevation (degrees)
Time
Altitude
Azimuth
Shift the map to change the time and observe Canis Minor changing position in the night sky.

Nebulae in the constellation Canis Minor

NGC2394

Open Cluster

NGC2394
↗ 18:57 ↘ 03:26 ↑ 12°
☼ - ✣ "
NGC2394 is an open cluster with apparent magnitude in the constellation Canis Minor.
More about NGC2394

NGC2402

Galaxy Pair

NGC2402
↗ 18:57 ↘ 03:26 ↑ 13°
☼ - ✣ 1.50"
NGC2402 is a galaxy pair with apparent magnitude in the constellation Canis Minor, spanning approximately 1.5 arcseconds in the sky.
More about NGC2402

NGC2459

Open Cluster

NGC2459
↗ 18:57 ↘ 03:26 ↑ 9°
☼ - ✣ 2.70"
NGC2459 is an open cluster with apparent magnitude in the constellation Canis Minor, spanning approximately 2.7 arcseconds in the sky.
More about NGC2459

Annual motion of Canis Minor

Time
DateTue, 18 August 2026
Twilight start19:28
Twilight end02:44
Twilight duration7h 17m
Rise02:37
Set15:15
Elevation at transit59°
Transit time08:56
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 07h 37m 15s", Dec: 06° 38' 31s
Magnitude-
Constellation
The graph illustrates the constellation’s annual visibility pattern and its daily rise, set, and transit times throughout the year.
The vertical axis shows the hours of the day, while the horizontal axis spans the days of the year.
The reddish area marks when the constellation is above the horizon. The white line shows when it reaches its highest point in the sky. View detailed visibility information in a table with rise, transit, and set times for each date.

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for defining and standardizing the official constellation boundaries used in celestial mapping.

Special thanks to Sky & Telescope Magazine and contributors Roger Sinnott and Rick Fienberg for producing the charts and tables. Alan MacRobert’s constellation patterns were influenced by the work of H. A. Rey and adjusted to align with earlier traditions.