The Hunter and His Dog

Tonight we're going to get a last glimpse of two Winter/Early Spring constellations, Orion and Canis Major.

Orion, The Hunter, is one of the most recognizable constellations in the sky, with the three stars in the belt being an easy identifier.

What's often overlooked is the constellation next to him, Canis Major, the "big dog" which is said to be Orion's hunting dog that follows him across the sky each night.

Canis Major has the distinction of being one of only a relatively small number of constellations whose pattern somewhat resembles its namesake, with the legs of the dog pointing towards Orion.

Another interesting distinction is that the head of the dog, Sirius (see chart) is the brightest star in the entire sky, including the southern hemisphere. Outshone only by the planet Venus, it's one of the most recognizable stars and is mentioned frequently in literature, often referred to as the Dog Star.

To find these two iconic constellations, head out after sunset, around 8:30 pm and look due West.

Orion, The Hunter, and his trusty hunting companion Canis Major, The Great Dog

Check back each day at 5 pm for our weekday observing guides!

Stay well, and clear skies!