Canis Major: The Big Dog
This constellation is known for having the brightest star in the sky: Sirius. It is easy to find in the north sky during the winter months because it is usually seen chasing the constellation Orion.
Canis Minor: The Little Dog
This is the companion constellation to that of Canis Major, the little dog is found also chasing after Orion just above Canis Major. It is easily located by finding its brightest star, Procyon.
The two dogs are found in many myths:
1) They are said to be two of Orion's hunting dogs
2) They are said to be Gemini's dogs begging for scraps underneath the table. The rest of the stars in the area are set to be the scraps and crumbs that the twins feed them.
3) Canis Minor is also explained to be one of Actaeon's hunting dogs. Actaeon was the hunter who had stumbled upon Artemis as she was bathing in a pond and was turned into a stag when she found out that he (a mere mortal) had seen her naked. She then sent out her own hunting dogs after Actaeon and they devoured him. |
