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Canopus

Coordinates:Sky map06h23m57.1099s,−52° 41′ 44.378″
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For other uses, seeCanopus (disambiguation).
Canopus

An image of Canopus byExpedition 6
Observation data
EpochJ2000EquinoxJ2000
Constellation Carina
Pronunciation /kəˈnoʊpəs/[1]
Right ascension 06h23m57.10988s[2]
Declination −52° 41′ 44.3810″[2]
Apparent magnitude(V) −0.74[3]
Characteristics
Spectral type A9 II[4][5]
U−Bcolor index +0.10[3]
B−Vcolor index +0.15[3]
Astrometry
Radial velocity(Rv)20.3±0.5[6]km/s
Proper motion(μ)RA:19.93[2]mas/yr
Dec.:23.24[2]mas/yr
Parallax(π)10.55 ± 0.56mas[2]
Distance310 ± 20ly
(95 ± 5pc)
Absolute magnitude(MV)–5.71[7]
Details
Mass9.81±1.83[8]M☉
Radius73.3±5.2[8]R☉
Luminosity10,700[9]L☉
Surface gravity(logg)1.70±0.05[8]cgs
Temperature7,400[10]K
Metallicity[Fe/H]–0.07[7]dex
Rotation≥298 d[11]
Rotational velocity(vsini)9[10]km/s
Age25.1±2.5[12]Myr
Other designations
Suhayl, Suhel, Suhail,α Carinae,CPD−52°1941,FK5245,GC8302,HD45348,HIP30438,HR2326,SAO234480[13]
Database references
SIMBADdata

Canopusis the brightest star in the southernconstellationofCarinaand thesecond-brightest starin thenight sky.It is alsodesignatedα Carinae,which isromanized(transliterated) toAlpha Carinae.With avisual apparent magnitudeof −0.74, it is outshone only bySirius.

Located around310light-yearsfrom theSun,Canopus is abright giantofspectral type A9,so it is essentially white when seen with the naked eye. It has a luminosity over 10,000 times theluminosity of the Sun,is eight times asmassive,and has expanded to 71 times theSun's radius.Its enlargedphotospherehas aneffective temperatureof around7400 K.Canopus is undergoingcorehelium burningand is currently in the so-calledblue loopphase of itsevolution,having already passed through thered-giant branchafter exhausting the hydrogen in its core. Canopus is asource of X-rays,which are likely being emitted from itscorona.

The prominent appearance of Canopus means it has been the subject of mythological lore among many ancient peoples. Its proper name is generally considered to originate from themythologicalCanopus,who was a navigator forMenelaus,king ofSparta.Theacronycal risingmarked the date of the Ptolemaia festival in Egypt. In ancient India, it was namedAgastyaafter the reveredVedicsage. For Chinese astronomers, it was known as theOld Man of the South Pole.InIslamic astronomy,it isSuhailorSuhayl,a name that is also commonly used to imply rareness of appearance (as the Canopus infrequently appeared to a gazer at Middle Eastern latitutes)

Nomenclature[edit]

The nameCanopusis a Latinisation of theAncient Greekname Κάνωβος/Kanôbos, recorded in Claudius Ptolemy'sAlmagest(c.150 AD). Eratosthenes used the same spelling.[14]Hipparchos wrote it as Κάνωπος.John Flamsteedwrote Canobus,[15]as didEdmond Halleyin his 1679Catalogus Stellarum Australium.[16]The name has two possible derivations, both listed inRichard Hinckley Allen's seminalStar Names: Their Lore and Meaning.

  • Argo Naviswas the ship used byJasonand the Argonauts in the legend of theTrojan War.The brightest star in the constellation was given the name of a ship's pilot from another Greek legend:Canopus,pilot ofMenelaus' ship on his quest to retrieveHelen of Troyafter she was taken byParis.[17]
  • A ruined ancient Egyptian port namedCanopuslies near the mouth of theNile,site of theBattle of the Nile.It is speculated that its name is derived from the EgyptianCopticKahi Nub( "Golden Earth" ), which refers to how Canopus would have appeared near the horizon inancient Egypt,reddened by atmospheric extinction from that position.[17][18]

In 2016, theInternational Astronomical Unionorganized aWorking Group on Star Names(WGSN) to catalog and standardize proper names for stars.[19]The WGSN's first bulletin of July 2016 included a table of the first two batches of names approved by the WGSN, which includedCanopusfor this star.[20]Canopus is now included in theIAU Catalog of Star Names.[21]

Canopus traditionally marked thekeelof the shipArgo Navis.[22]German celestial cartographerJohann Bayergave it—as the brightest star in the constellation—thedesignationofα Argus(LatinisedtoAlpha Argus) in 1603. In 1763, French astronomerNicolas Louis de Lacailledivided the huge constellation into three smaller ones,[23]and hence Canopus becameα Carinae(LatinisedtoAlpha Carinae). It is listed in theBright Star Catalogueas HR 2326, theHenry Draper Catalogueas HD 45348, and theHipparcos catalogueas HIP 30438.[13]Flamsteed did not number this southern star, butBenjamin Apthorp Gouldgave it the number 7 (7 G. Carinae) in hisUranometria Argentina.[24]

An occasional name seen in English isSoheil,or the feminine Soheila; in Turkish isSüheyl,or the feminine Süheyla, from the Arabic name for several bright stars, سهيلsuhayl,[17]and Canopus was known as Suhel/ˈsuːhɛl/in medieval times.[25]Alternative spellings include Suhail, Souhail, Suhilon, Suheyl, Sohayl, Suhayil, Shoel, Sohil, Soheil, Sahil, Suhayeel, Sohayil, Sihel, and Sihil.[17]An alternative name wasWazn"weight" orHaḍar"ground", implying the anchor stone used by ship, rather than being related to its low position near the horizon.[17]Hence comes its name in theAlfonsine tables,Suhel ponderosus, a Latinization ofAl Suhayl al Wazn.[17]Its Greek name was revived during theRenaissance.[25]

Observation[edit]

The constellationCarinawith Canopus towards the right (west)

The Spanish Muslim astronomerIbn Rushdwent toMarrakesh(in Morocco) to observe the star in 1153, as it was invisible in his nativeCórdoba,Al-Andalus.He used the different visibility in different latitudes to argue that theEarth is round,followingAristotle's argumentwhich held that such an observation was only possible if the Earth was a relatively small sphere.[26]

English explorerRobert Huesbrought Canopus to the attention of European observers in his 1592 workTractatus de Globis,along withAchernarandAlpha Centauri,noting:

"Now, therefore, there are but threeStars of the first magnitudethat I could perceive in all those parts which are never seene here in England. The first of these is that bright Star in the sterne ofArgowhich they call Canobus. The second is in the end ofEridanus.The third is in the right foote of theCentaure."[27]

A field of stars against the Milky Way background with the prominent stars and constellations labelled
Wide angle view showing Canopus and other prominent stars with the Milky Way

In theSouthern Hemisphere,Canopus andSiriusare both visible high in the sky simultaneously, and reach ameridianjust21 minapart. Brighter thanfirst magnitude,Canopus can be seen by naked eye in the early twilight. Mostly visible in mid to late summer in the Southern Hemisphere, Canopusculminatesat midnight on December 27,[28]and at 9 PM on February 11.[29]

When seen from latitudes south of 37° 18′ S, Canopus is acircumpolar star.Since Canopus is so far south in the sky, it never rises in mid- to far-northern latitudes; in theory the northern limit of visibility is latitude 37° 18′ north. This is just south ofAthens,Richmond, Virginia(USA), andSan Francisco,and very close toSevilleandAgrigento.It is almost exactly the latitude ofLick ObservatoryonMt. Hamilton, California,from which it is readily visible because of the effects of elevation andatmospheric refraction,which add another degree to its apparent altitude. Under ideal conditions, it can be spotted as far north as latitude 37° 31′ from the Pacific coast.[30]Another northernmost record of visibility came fromMount Nemrutin Turkey, latitude 37° 59′.[31]It is more easily visible in places such as the Gulf Coast and Florida, and the island ofCrete(Greece) where the best season for viewing it around 9 p.m. is during late January and early February.[28]

Canopus has a B–Vcolor indexof +0.15—where 0 is a blue-white—indicating it is essentially white, although it has been described as yellow-white. Canopus' spectral type has been given as F0 and the incrementally warmer A9. It is less yellow thanAltairorProcyon,with indices measured as 0.22 and 0.42, respectively.[32]Some observers may have perceived Canopus as yellow-tinged because it is low in the sky and hence subject to atmospheric effects.[33]Patrick Mooresaid that it never appeared anything but white to him.[34]Thebolometric correctionfor Canopus is 0.00,[7]indicating that the visualabsolute magnitudeand bolometric absolute magnitude are equal.

Canopus was previously proposed to be a member of theScorpius–Centaurus association,however it is not located near the subgroups of that association, and has not been included as a Sco-Cen member in kinematic studies that usedHipparcosastrometric data.[35]Canopus is not thought to be a member of any nearby young stellar groups.[36]In 2014, astronomer Eric Mamajek reported that an extremely magnetically active M dwarf (having strong coronal X-ray emission), 1.16 degrees south of Canopus, appears to share acommon proper motionwith Canopus. The projected separation of the M dwarf 2MASS J06234738-5351131 ( "Canopus B" ) is approximately 1.9 parsecs. However, despite this large separation, it is still within the estimated tidal radius (2.9 parsecs) for the massive star Canopus.[36]

No star closer than Canopus is more luminous than it, and it has been the brightest star in Earth's night sky during three epochs over the past four million years. Other stars appear brighter only during relatively temporary periods, during which they are passing the Solar System much closer than Canopus. About 90,000 years ago,Siriusmoved close enough that it became brighter than Canopus, and that will remain so for another 210,000 years. But in 480,000 years, as Sirius moves further away and appears fainter, Canopus will once again be the brightest, and will remain so for a period of about 510,000 years.[37]

Role in navigation[edit]

Canopus is the brightest star in the constellation of Carina (top).

The southeastern wall of theKaabainMeccais aligned with the rising point of Canopus, and is also namedJanūb.[38]TheBedouinpeople of theNegevandSinaiknew Canopus asSuhayl,and used it andPolarisas the two principal stars for navigation at night. Because it disappears below the horizon in those regions, it became associated with a changeable nature, as opposed to always-visible Polaris, which was circumpolar and hence 'steadfast'.[39]

The southcelestial polecan be approximately located using Canopus and another bright star,Achernar,as the three make anequilateral triangle.Canopus sits on an imaginary line that extends 36° one way to Sirius and 37° to the south celestial pole.[40]

Canopus's brightness and location well off theeclipticmake it useful for space navigation. Many spacecraft carry a special camera known as a "CanopusStar Tracker"plus a Sun sensor forattitudedetermination.Mariner 4used Canopus forsecond axis stabilisation(after locking on the Sun) in 1964, the first time a star had been used.[41]

Spectrum[edit]

Canopus was little-studied by western scientists before the 20th century. It was given a spectral class of F in 1897, an early use of this extension toSecchi classI, applied to those stars where the hydrogen lines are relatively weak and thecalcium K linerelatively strong.[42]It was given as a standard star of F0 in theHenry Draper Catalogue,with the spectral type F0 described as having hydrogen lines half the strength of an A0 star and the calcium K line three times as strong as Hδ.[43]American astronomerJesse Greensteinwas interested in stellar spectra and used the newly builtOtto Struve TelescopeatMcDonald Observatoryto analyze the star's spectrum in detail.[44]In a 1942 paper, he reported that the spectrum is dominated by strong broad hydrogen lines. There are alsoabsorption linesof carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, sulphur, iron, and many ionised metals.[45]It was studied in theultravioletby an early astronomical satellite,Gemini XIin 1966. The UV spectra were considered to be consistent with an F0supergianthaving a temperature of6,900 K,the accepted parameters for Canopus at the time.[46]New Zealand-based astronomersJohn Hearnshawand Krishna Desikachary examined the spectrum in greater detail, publishing their results in 1982.[47][48]

Whenluminosity classeswere added to the MK spectral classification scheme, Canopus was assigned class Iab indicating an intermediate luminosity supergiant. This was based on the relative strengths of certain spectral lines understood to be sensitive to the luminosity of a star.[49]In theBright Star Catalogue5th edition it is given the spectral class F0II, the luminosity class indicating abright giant.[50]Balmer lineprofiles and oxygen line strengths indicate the size and luminosity of Canopus.[51]

When the effects of stellar rotation speed on spectral lines are accounted for, the MK spectral class of Canopus is adjusted to A9II.[4]Its spectrum consists mostly of absorption lines on a visiblecontinuum,but some emission has been detected. For example, thecalcium K linehas weak emission wings on each side of the strong central absorption line, first observed in 1966. The emission line profiles are usually correlated with the luminosity of the star as described by theWilson-Bappu effect,but in the case of Canopus they indicate a luminosity much lower than that calculated by other methods.[52]More detailed observations have shown that the emission line profiles are variable and may be due toplageareas on the surface of the star. Emission can also be found in other lines such as the h and k lines of ionised magnesium.[53]

Distance[edit]

Before the launch of theHipparcossatellite telescope, distance estimates for Canopus varied widely, from 96light-yearsto 1200 light-years (or 30 to 370 parsecs). For example, an old distance estimate of 200 parsecs (652 light years) gave it a luminosity of 80,000L☉,[54]far higher than modern estimates.[9]The closer distance was derived from parallax measurements of around33mas.[55]The larger distance derives from the assumption of a very brightabsolute magnitudefor Canopus.[56]

Hipparcos established Canopus as being310 light-years(95parsecs) from theSolar System;this is based on its 2007parallaxmeasurement of10.43±0.53mas.[2]At 95 parsecs, theinterstellar extinctionfor Canopus is low at 0.26 magnitudes.[8]Canopus is too bright to be included in the normal observation runs of theGaia satelliteand there is no published Gaia parallax for it.[57]

At present the star is drifting further away from the Sun with aradial velocityof 20 km/s. Some 3.1 million years ago it made the closest approach to the Sun at a distance of about 172 ly (53 pc). Canopus is orbiting the Milky Way with a heliocentric velocity of 24.5 km/s and a loweccentricityof 0.065.[58]

Physical characteristics[edit]

Artistical representation of Canopus.

Theabsorption linesin the spectrum of Canopus shift slightly with a period of6.9 d.This was first detected in 1906 and theDopplervariations were interpreted as orbital motion.[59]An orbit was even calculated, but no such companion exists and the small radial velocity changes are due to movements in the atmosphere of the star. The maximum observedradial velocitiesare only 0.7 to1.6km/s.Canopus also has a magnetic field that varies with the same period, detected by theZeeman splittingof its spectral lines.[60]Canopus is bright atmicrowavewavelengths, one of the few F-class stars to be detected by radio.[61]Therotation periodof the star is not accurately known, but may be over three hundred days.[11]Theprojected rotational velocityhas been measured at 9 km/s.[10]

An earlyinterferometricmeasurement of itsangular diameterin 1968 gave alimb-darkenedvalue of6.86mas,close to the accepted modern value.[62]Very-long-baseline interferometryhas been used to calculate Canopus' angular diameter at6.9mas.Combined with distance calculated from its Hipparcos parallax, this gives it a radius of 71 timesthat of the Sun.[9]If it were at the centre of the Solar System, it would extend 90% of the way to the orbit ofMercury.[63]The radius and temperature relative to the Sun means that it is 10,700 times more luminous than the Sun, and its position in theH-R diagramrelative to theoreticalevolutionarytracks means that it is8.0±0.3times as massive as the Sun.[9]Measurements of its shape find a 1.1° departure from spherical symmetry.[64]

Canopus is a source ofX-rays,which are probably produced by its corona, magnetically heated to several millionKelvin.The temperature has likely been stimulated by fast rotation combined with strong convection percolating through the star's outer layers.[65]The soft X-ray sub-coronal X-ray emission is much weaker than the hard X-ray coronal emission. The same behaviour has been measured in other F-class supergiants such asα Perseiand is now believed to be a normal property of such stars.[10]

Evolution[edit]

The spectrum of Canopus indicates that it spent some 30 million years of its existence as a blue-white main sequence star of around 10 solar masses, before exhausting its core hydrogen andevolvingaway from themain sequence.[66]The position of Canopus in theH–R diagramindicates that it is currently in the core-helium burning phase.[9]It is an intermediate mass star that has left thered-giant branchbefore its core becamedegenerateand is now in ablue loop.[67]Models of stellar evolution in the blue loop phase show that the length of the blue loop is strongly affected by rotation and mi xing effects inside the star. It is difficult to determine whether a star is currently evolving towards hotter temperature or returning to cooler temperatures, since the evolutionary tracks for stars with different masses overlap during the blue loops.[7]

Canopus lies on the warm side of theinstability stripand does not pulsate likeCepheid variablesof a similar luminosity.[68]However its atmosphere does appear to be unstable, showing strong signs of convection.[7]

Canopus may be massive enough to explode byiron-core collapse supernova.

Cultural significance[edit]

Canopus was known to the ancient Mesopotamians and represented the city ofEriduin theThree Stars EachBabylonian star cataloguesand laterMUL.APINaround 1100 BC.[69]Canopus was called MUL.NUNKIby the Babylonians, which translates as "star of the city of Eridu". Eridu was the southernmost and one of the oldest Sumerian cities. From there is a good view to the south, so that about 6000 years ago due to the precession of the Earth's axis the first rising of the star Canopus in Mesopotamia could be observed only from there at the southern meridian at midnight.[70]

Today, the starSigma Sagittariiis known by the common name Nunki.[71]

Canopus was not visible to the mainlandancient GreeksandRomans;it was, however, visible to theancient Egyptians.[72]HenceAratusdid not write of the star as it remained below the horizon, whileEratosthenesandPtolemy—observing fromAlexandria—did, calling itKanōbos.[14]AnEgyptianpriestly poet in the time ofThutmose IIImentions the star asKarbana,"the star which pours his light in a glance of fire, when he disperses the morning dew."[17]Under thePtolemies,the star was known asPtolemaion(Greek:Πτολεμαῖον) and itsacronychal risingmarked the date of the Ptolemaia festival, which was held every four years, from 262 to 145 BC.[73]

The Greek astronomer Posidonius used observations of Canopus to calculate quite accurately theEarth's circumference,around 90 – 120 BC.

Averroes,who used his 1153 observation of Canopus inMarrakeshwhile the star was invisible in his native Spain as an argument that theEarth is round[26]

India[edit]

In IndianVedic literature,Canopus is associated with the sageAgastya,one of the ancientsiddharsandrishis(the others are associated with the stars of theBig Dipper).[74]To Agastya, the star is said to be the 'cleanser of waters', and its rising coincides with the calming of the waters of theIndian Ocean.Canopus is described byPliny the ElderandGaius Julius Solinusas the largest, brightest and only source ofstarlightfor navigators nearTamraparniisland (ancient Sri Lanka) during many nights.[75][74][76]

China[edit]

Canopus was described as Shou Xing, the Star of Longevity, in theShiji(Records of the Grand Historian) completed in 94 BC by Chinese historianSima Qian.[77]Drawing on sources from theWarring States period,he noted it to be the southern counterpart ofSirius,[78]and wrote of a sanctuary dedicated to it established by EmperorQin Shi Huangbetween 221 and 210 BC. During theHan dynasty,the star was auspicious, its appearance in the southern sky heralding peace and absence war.[77]From the imperial capitalChang'an,the star made a low transit across the southern sky, indicating true south to observers, and was often obscured by clouds.[79]During this time it was also equated withOld Man of the South Pole(inChinese:Nam cực lão nhân;pinyin:Nanji Lǎorén)[77]Under this name, Canopus appears (albeit misplaced northwards) on the medieval Chinese manuscript theDunhuang Star Chart,although it cannot be seen from the Chinese capital ofChang'an.[78]The Chinese astronomerYi Xinghad journeyed south to chart Canopus and other far southern stars in 724 AD.[80]Its personification as the Old Man Star was popularised in theTang dynasty,where it appeared often in poetry and memorials. Later still, during theMing dynasty,the star was established as one of theThree Stars(Fu Lo Shou), appearing frequently in art and literature of the time.[77]This symbolism spread into neighbouring cultures in Asia.[79] In Japan, Canopus is known asMera-boshiandRoujin-sei(the old man star),[81]and in Mongolia, it was personified as the White Old Man.[77]Although the link was known in Tibet, with names such asGenpo karpo(Rgan po dkar po) orGenkar(Rgan dkar) "White Old Man", the symbolism was not popular. Instead, Canopus was more commonly namedKarma Rishi སྐར་མ་རི་ཥི།,derived from Indian mythology. Tibetans celebrated the star's heliacal rising with ritual bathing and associated it with morning dew.[79]

Polynesia[edit]

Bright stars were important to the ancientPolynesiansfor navigation between the many islands and atolls of the Pacific Ocean. Low on the horizon, they acted as stellar compasses to assist mariners in charting courses to particular destinations. Canopus served as the southern wingtip of a "Great Bird" constellation calledManu,with Sirius as the body andProcyonthe northern wingtip, which divided the Polynesian night sky into two hemispheres.[82]TheHawaiian peoplecalled CanopusKe Alii-o-kona-i-ka-lewa,"The chief of the southern expanse"; it was one of the stars used byHawaiʻiloaand Ki when they traveled to theSouthern Ocean.[83]TheMāori peopleofNew Zealand/Aotearoahad several names for Canopus.Ariki( "High-born" ), was known as a solitary star that appeared in the east, prompting people to weep and chant.[84]They also named itAtutahi,AotahiorAtuatahi,"Stand Alone".[85]Its solitary nature indicates it is atapustar, astapupeople are often solitary. Its appearance at the beginning of theMaruaroaseason foretells the coming winter; light rays to the south indicate a cold wet winter, and to the north foretell a mild winter. Food was offered to the star on its appearance.[86]This name has several mythologies attached to it. One story tells of how Atutahi was left outside the basket representing theMilky WaywhenTānewove it. Another related myth about the star says that Atutahi was the first-born child ofRangi,who refused to enter the Milky Way and so turned it sideways and rose before it. The same name is used for other stars and constellations throughout Polynesia.[87]Kapae-poto,"Short horizon", referred to it rarely setting as seen in New Zealand;[88]Kauanga( "Solitary" ) was the name for Canopus only when it was the last star visible before sunrise.[89]The people of theSociety Islandshad two names for Canopus, as did theTuamotupeople. The Society Islanders called CanopusTaurua-e-tupu-tai-nanu,"Festivity-whence-comes-the-flux-of-the-sea", andTaurua-nui-o-te-hiti-apatoa"Great-festivity-of-the-border-of-the-south",[90]and the Tuamotu people called the starTe Tau-rariandMarere-te-tavahi,the latter said to be the true name for the former, "He-who-stands-alone".[91]

Africa[edit]

In theGuanchemythology of the island ofTenerife(Spain), the star Canopus was linked with the goddessChaxiraxi.[92]

TheTswana peopleofBotswanaknew Canopus asNaka.Appearing late in winter skies, it heralded increasing winds and a time when trees lose their leaves. Stock owners knew it was time to put their sheep with rams.[93]In southern Africa, the Sotho, Tswana and Venda people called CanopusNakaorNanga,“the Horn Star”, while the Zulu and Swazi called itinKhwenkwezi"Brilliant star". It appears in the predawn sky in the third week of May. According to the Venda, the first person to see Canopus would blow aphalaphalahorn from the top of a hill, getting a cow for a reward. The Sotho chiefs also awarded a cow, and ordered their medicine men to roll bone dice and read the fortune for the coming year.[94]To theǀXam-speakingBushmenof South Africa, Canopus and Sirius signalled the appearance of termites and flying ants. They also believed that stars had the power to cause death and misfortune, and they would pray toSiriusand Canopus in particular to impart good fortune or skill.[95]TheǃKung peopleof theKalahari Desertin Botswana held Canopus and Capella to be the horns oftshxum(the Pleiades), the appearance of all three marking the end of the dry season and start of the rainy season.[96]

Americas[edit]

TheNavajoobserved the star and named itMaʼii Bizòʼ,the “Coyote Star”. According to legend, Maʼii (Coyote) took part in the naming and placing of the star constellations during the creation of the universe. He placed Canopus directly south, naming it after himself.[97]

TheKalapalopeople ofMato Grossostate in Brazil saw Canopus andProcyonasKofongo"Duck", withCastorandPolluxrepresenting his hands. The asterism's appearance signified the coming of the rainy season and increase inmanioc,a food staple fed to guests at feasts.[98]

Australia[edit]

Canopus is identified as the moiety ancestorWaa"Crow" to someKooripeople in southeastern Australia.[99]The Boorong people of northwestern Victoria recalled thatWar(Canopus) was the brother ofWarepil(Sirius), and that he brought fire from the heavens and introduced it to humanity. His wife wasCollowgullouric War(Eta Carinae).[100]The Pirt-Kopan-noot people of western Victoria tell ofWaa"Crow" falling in love with a queen,Gneeanggar"Wedge-tailed Eagle" (Sirius) and her six attendants (the Pleiades). His advances spurned, he hears that the women are foraging for grubs and so transforms himself into a grub. When the women dig him out, he changes into a giant and carries her off.[101]

The Kulin people know Canopus asLo-an-tuka.[100]Objects in the sky are also associated with states of being for some tribes; the Wailwun of northern New South Wales know Canopus asWumba"deaf", alongside Mars asGumba"fat" and Venus asNgindigindoer"you are laughing".[102]

Tasmanian aboriginal lore holds that Canopus isDromerdene,the brother ofMoinee;the two fought and fell out of the sky, withDromerdenefalling into Louisa Bay in southwest Tasmania.[103]AstronomerDuane Hamacherhas identified Canopus withMoineein a paper dating Tasmanian Aboriginal oral tradition to the late Pleistocene,[104]when Canopus was much closer to the Southcelestial pole.

Legacy[edit]

Canopus-class battleshipHMS Glory

Canopus appears on theflag of Brazil,symbolising the state ofGoiás.[105]

Two U.S. Navysubmarine tendershave been named after Canopus, thefirstserving from 1922 to 1942 and thesecondserving from 1965 to 1994.

TheRoyal Navybuilt nineCanopus-class ships of the linein the early 19th century, and sixCanopus-class battleshipswhich entered services between 1899 and 1902.

There are at least two mountains named after the star:Mount Canopusin Antarctica; and Mount Canopus or Canopus Hill inTasmania,the location of theCanopus Hill astronomical observatory.

In popular culture[edit]

The fictional planetArrakis,ofFrank Herbert's 1965 novelDune,orbits Canopus.[106]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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Bibliography[edit]


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