Canes Venatici
| Canes Venatici | |
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| |
| Abbreviation | CVn |
| Genitive | Canum Venaticorum |
| Meaning in English | the Hunting Dogs |
| Right ascension | 13 h |
| Declination | 40° |
| Visible to latitude | Between 90° and -40° |
| On meridian | 9 p.m., May 20 |
| Area - Total | Ranked 38th 465 sq. deg. |
| Number of stars with apparent magnitude < 3 | 1 |
| Brightest star - Apparent magnitude | Cor Caroli 2.90 |
| Meteor showers | |
| Bordering constellations | |
Canes Venatici (the hunting dogs) is a small northern constellation that was introduced by Johannes Hevelius in the 17th century. It is supposed to represent the dogs Chara and Asterion held on a leash by Boötes.
Among the objects in Canes Venatici is the Whirlpool Galaxy, M51, a spiral galaxy that is seen face on. This was the first galaxy recognised as having a spiral structure, this structure being first observed by Lord Rosse in 1845.
M51, known as the Whirlpool Galaxy. At the top of the picture is a companion galaxy which is being disrupted by the gravitational forces of M51.
