Canopus

space · stars · southern sky

Second brightest star. Canopus is the second-brightest star visible from Earth at night, beaten only by a star called Sirius. It shines so brightly that people in the southern hemisphere can spot it easily in the night sky.

Located in Carina. Canopus lives in the constellation Carina, which is a group of stars that form a pattern in the southern sky. Its official name is Alpha Carinae, which means it is the brightest star in that constellation.

Super luminous giant. Canopus is much brighter and bigger than our Sun, making it a supergiant star. This means it gives off an enormous amount of light and heat into space.

Amazing to observe. Because Canopus is so bright, it has been used by sailors and travelers for thousands of years to navigate at sea and find their way across the ocean.