Beta Canis Majoris
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 Location of Β CMa. |
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| Observation data Epoch J2000 |
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|---|---|
| Constellation (pronunciation) |
Canis Major |
| Right ascension | 06h 22m 42s |
| Declination | -17° 57′ 21.3″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 1.98 |
| 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 |
| Details | |
| Mass | ? M☉ |
| Radius | ? R☉ |
| Luminosity | 19,000 L☉ |
| Temperature | 22,000 K |
| Metallicity | ? |
| Rotation | 36 km/s. |
| Age | unknown years |
| Other designations | |
Beta Canis Majoris (β CMa / β Canis Majoris) is a star in the constellation of Canis Major. It also has the traditional name Murzim, Al-Murzim or Mirzam.
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 variable 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. It is a star which is currently in the final stages of using hydrogen gas for fuel. Soon, it will run out of this useful gas and begin using helium for fuel instead.
Beta Canis Majoris is located near the far end of the Local Bubble - a cavity in the local Interstellar medium though which the Sun is traveling.
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