Canes Venatici

The Hunting Dogs

A faint spring constellation below the Big Dipper's handle, with the Whirlpool Galaxy and the bright globular cluster M3.

Chart drawn as the sky looks when you face the constellation: north is up and east is to the left. Dot size shows brightness, and color hints at temperature. The connecting lines are one common stick figure; other traditions draw them differently.

Best season: Spring
Best months: March through June, high in the sky on spring evenings
Visibility: Visible from everywhere in the United States
Abbreviation: CVn

How to find it

Look below the end of the Big Dipper's handle for Cor Caroli, a moderately bright star in an otherwise empty patch.
Cor Caroli forms a rough diamond with Arcturus, Spica, and Denebola.

Brightest stars

Cor Caroli (a double star in small telescopes)
Chara

What to look for

Cor Caroli, the brightest star in the area.

Binocular and telescope targets

Whirlpool Galaxy (M51): a bright spiral galaxy with its companion, a famous telescope target, a short hop from Alkaid
M3: a bright globular cluster, visible in binoculars
Cor Caroli: a double star in small telescopes

Using it to find other things

Cor Caroli lies below the Big Dipper's handle. With Arcturus, Spica, and Denebola it makes the Diamond of Virgo.

About this constellation

Canes Venatici has only two named stars, but it is rich in galaxies. The Whirlpool Galaxy is a short hop from the end of the Big Dipper's handle.

In a dark sky and a small telescope, the Whirlpool Galaxy shows its spiral form, a hint of the arms and a companion galaxy.

Related guides

Visibility depends on your latitude, the date, and the time of night. The months above assume a typical evening from the contiguous United States, so use a planetarium app to confirm what is up tonight. Never look at the Sun through binoculars or a telescope without a proper solar filter.

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