Canes Venatici

Abbreviation: CVn
Genitive: Canum Venaticorum
Right Ascension: 13.16 hours
Declination: 41.15 degrees

Canes Venatici, the greyhounds are visible in the Northern Hemisphere in spring and summer.

These are the Greyhounds of Bootes, Asterion, the Starry - from the little stars marking the body and Chara, the Dear - because it is dear to the heart of its master. They help Bootes pursue the Bear (Ursa Major) around the Pole.

Bright Stars | Deep Sky | Other Deep Sky | Variable Stars | Double Stars

Best Known Stars

(Yale Bright Star Catalog)

Common Name or Bayer Number 1	RA	DEC	Magnitude 2
COR CAROLI	12.00:56.00:1.66	+38.00:19.00:6.21	2.90
CHARA	12.00:33.00:44.54	+41.00:21.00:26.89	4.26
20 CVN	13.00:17.00:32.54	+40.00:34.00:21.45	4.73
6 CVN	12.00:25.00:50.93	+39.00:1.00:6.99	5.02
14 CVN	13.00:5.00:44.45	+35.00:47.00:56.05	5.25
3 CVN	12.00:19.00:48.72	+48.00:59.00:2.93	5.29
23 CVN	13.00:20.00:18.95	+40.00:9.00:2.02	5.60
2 CVN	12.00:16.00:7.55	+40.00:39.00:36.63	5.66
17 CVN	13.00:10.00:3.21	+38.00:29.00:56.27	5.91

Deep Sky Objects

(PAS Catalog)

M-106

M-106 This large and bright galaxy is about 12x5' with a bright oval core and a fainter surrounding halo. At times in good seeing, faint spiral structure can be seen in this galaxy.

M-3

M-3 This pretty globular cluster is about 12-15' in diameter and handles magnification rather well. There are many stars arranged in curving chains resolved at its edges. The center is very dense, and was not resolved in my scope, which showed a granulated center.

M-51

M-51 is the Whirlpool galaxy. This pair of galaxies are on a colision course.

M-63

M-63 The Sunflower galaxy. This is a large, bright galaxy, about 10x5', extended E-W. The bright center is surrounded by a halo which fades gradually to the edges. Long exposure photography shows an amazingly intricate spiral structure.

M-94

M-94 Another large and bright galaxy. It is about 8-10' in diameter and roughly circular. It is very bright, with a large core and a fainter surrounding envelope. On a superb night in the mountains of New Mexico, I was able to detect its delicate spiral structure at the edges.

NGC-4631

NGC 4631 This is one of the gems to be discovered by those pursuing the Herschel objects. This remarkable galaxy is large, about 13x2', extended E-W, with a star seemingly imbedded above its center. It is relatively bright, with mottling and streaks very reminiscent of M-82 in Ursa Major.

NGC-4656

NGC 4656 Another fine object. This peculiar galaxy is about 10x2', extended NE-SW. The southeast side is very faint, but the northeastern side is curled to the east as it tapers to a point. An off-center central bulge gives this galaxy an overall comma shape.

Other Deep Sky Objects

(Saguaro Astronomy Club Catalog)

Only Objects less than 10.0 Mag.

Object	R.A.	Dec.	Object Type 3	Mag.	Uranometria	Tirion
NGC 4214	12 15.7	+36 20	GALXY	09.8	107	07
NGC 4258	12 18.9	+47 19	GALXY	08.4	074	07
NGC 4449	12 28.2	+44 06	GALXY	09.6	075	07
NGC 4490	12 30.6	+41 39	GALXY	09.8	075	07
NGC 4631	12 42.1	+32 33	GALXY	09.2	108	07
NGC 4736	12 50.9	+41 08	GALXY	08.2	075	07
NGC 5005	13 11.0	+37 03	GALXY	09.8	109	07
NGC 5055	13 15.8	+42 02	GALXY	08.6	076	07
NGC 5194	13 30.0	+47 11	GALXY	08.4	076	07
NGC 5195	13 30.1	+47 16	GALXY	09.6	076	07
NGC 5272	13 42.2	+28 23	GLOCL	06.4	110	07

Variable Stars

(General Catalog of Variable Stars)

Only Objects <= 8.0 magnitude

GCVS ID	R.A. (hh mm ss.ss)	Dec. (deg mm ss)	Variable Type 4	Mag. Min	Mag. Max
TU CVn	12.00:52.00:39.70	+47.00:28.00:3.00	SRB	6.60	5.55
AI CVn	12.00:21.00:19.70	+42.00:49.00:10.00	DSCT	6.15	5.89
AO CVn	13.00:15.00:18.10	+40.00:50.00:7.00	DSCTC	4.75	4.70
AW CVn	13.00:49.00:35.20	+34.00:41.00:28.00	SR:	4.81	4.72
AX CVn	12.00:36.00:51.10	+36.00:13.00:35.00	ACV	6.55	6.32
BH CVn	13.00:32.00:33.90	+37.00:26.00:17.00	RS	5.01	4.94
BK CVn	13.00:16.00:7.10	+49.00:56.00:40.00	ACV	0.04	5.13
BM CVn	13.00:19.00:17.30	+39.00:8.00:32.00	RS	0.06	7.21
alf 2 CVn	12.00:53.00:41.50	+38.00:35.00:17.00	ACV	2.98	2.84

Double Stars

(Saguaro Astronomy Club Catalog)

Only Objects <= 8.0 magnitude

Name	R.A. (hh mm.m)	Dec. (deg mm)	Mag 5	Sep 6	PA 7	Tirion	Uranometria
STF 1645	12 28.1	44 47	7.4, 8.0	9.90	158	7	75
STF 1692	12 56.1	38 18	2.9, 5.4	19.40	228	7	75/ 108/ 109
STF 24	13 10.1	38 30	6.0, 6.2	284.60	297	7	75/ 76/ 109
STT 261	13 12.0	32 05	7.2, 7.7	2.20	342	7	109