Canis Major constellation. This constellation, representing the largest hunting dog of Orion the hunter, contains the brightest star in the night sky,

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Canis Major constellation. This constellation, representing the largest hunting dog of Orion the hunter, contains the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris, upper centre). This bright white star is not especially powerful, it appears so bright as it is very close to Earth, just light years away. At top right is the lower part of the constellation Orion, including part of its belt and the sword (below the belt), which contains the Orion nebula (M42), seen as a fuzzy pink patch.

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Keywords: astronomical, astronomy, brightest, canis, constellation, constellations, m42, major, nebula, night, orion, sirius, sky, space, star, stars