Omicron2 Canis Majoris

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ο² Canis Majoris
Observation data
Epoch J2000
Constellation
(pronunciation)
Canis Major
Right ascension 07h 03m 01.5s
Declination −23° 49′ 60″
Apparent magnitude (V) 3.00
Characteristics
Spectral type B3Ia
U-B color index −0.80
B-V color index −0.06
Variable type α Cyg
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv) 48.4 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −1.56 mas/yr
Dec.: 4.28 mas/yr
Parallax (π) 1.27 ± 0.56 mas
Distance approx. 3000 ly
(approx. 800 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV) −6.46
Details
Mass 20 M
Radius ? R
Luminosity 1.1 × 105 L
Temperature 14,700 K
Metallicity ?
Rotation 44 km/s.
Age 8 × 106 years
Other designations
24 Canis Majoris, HR 2653, CD−23°4797, HD 53138, SAO 172839, FK5 270, HIP 33977, GC 9307
Database references
SIMBAD data

Omicron2 Canis Majoris (ο² CMa / ο² Canis Majoris) is a star in the constellation Canis Major. It is one of the most luminous stars known. This is a supergiant star that has used up the Hydrogen fuel in its core and has entered the evolutionary stage where it is fusing Helium atoms to form Carbon. When this star has used up its fuel, it is considered likely to become a supernova.

ο² Canis Majoris is classified as an Alpha Cygni type variable star and its brightness varies from magnitude +2.98 to +3.04.

The star ο1 Canis Majoris lies nearly along the line of sight with this star, but the two do not form a gravitational pair. However, the two are within a hundred light years of each other and likely formed in the same area of space.

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