Beta Canis Majoris

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Beta Canis Majoris

Location of Β CMa.
Observation data
Epoch J2000
Constellation Canis Major
Right ascension 06h 22m 42s
Declination -17° 57′ 21.3″
Apparent magnitude (V) 1.98
Spectral Characteristics
Spectral type B1 II-III
U-B color index -0.98
B-V color index -0.23
Variable type Beta Cephei
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv) 34 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: -3.45 mas/yr
Dec.: -0.47 mas/yr
Parallax (π) 6.53 ± 0.66 mas
Distance approx. 500 ly
(approx. 150 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV) -3.95
Physical Characteristics
Mass  ? M
Radius  ? R
Luminosity 19,000 L
Temperature 22,000 K
Metallicity  ?
Rotation 36 km/s.
Age  ? years
Other designations
Murzim, Murzam, Mirza, 2 Canis Majoris, HR 2294, BD−17°1467, HD 44743, SAO 151428, FK5 243, HIP 30324, GC 8223, CCDM 06227-1757

Beta Canis Majoris (β CMa / β Canis Majoris) is a star in the constellation of Canis Major. It also has the traditional name Murzim or Murzam.

The traditional name is Arabic (مرزم) for 'The Herald', and probably refers to its position, heralding Sirius in the night sky (ie, rising before it). Murzim is a magnitude blue-white giant star. The brightness of Murzim varies between 1.95 and +2.00 in a six-hour period. It is a Beta Cephei variable star.