CanesVenatici (original) (raw)

Two constellations ride the sky south of the Big Dipper. At the left is Canes Venatici(the Hunting Dogs), a modern constellation marked principally by Cor Caroli (the brightest star in the picture, at left) and considerably dimmer Chara, which is above and just slightly to the left of it. These two and the star up and to the right of Cor Caroli make the southern of the two dogs, originally called by the star's name "Chara." The northern dog, "Asterion," is marked by the little clump of stars down and to the left of Cor Caroli. Farther south (to the right) is the lacy cluster that makes the lovely constellation Coma Berenices (Berenice's Hair). The North Galactic Pole lies near the first pair of stars seen down and to the left of Coma Berenices, the brighter of which (31 Comae) is the north Galactic pole star, "Polaris Galacticus Borealis."