Delta Canis Majoris

Delta Canis Majoris is a star in the constellation of Canis Major. It is a yellow-white F-type supergiant with an apparent magnitude of +1.83.

δ Canis Majoris

Location of δ Canis Majoris (circled)
Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Canis Major
Right ascension	07h 08m 23.48608s
Declination	−26° 23′ 35.5474″
Apparent magnitude (V)	1.824
Characteristics
Spectral type	F8Ia
Astrometry
Distance	1600 ly
Details
Mass	12 M☉
Radius	215 R☉
Luminosity	82,000 L☉
Surface gravity (log g)	1.14 cgs
Temperature	6,390 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]	0.24 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)	25 km/s
Age	12 Myr
Other designations
Wezen, Wesen, Wezea, Alwazn, Al Wazor, 25 Canis Majoris, CD−263916, FK5 273, HD 54605, HIP 34444, HR 2693, SAO 173047.

Since 1943, the spectrum of this star has been one of the stable anchor points by which other stars are classified.

Properties

Delta Canis Majoris is a supergiant of class F8 with a radius around 215 times that of the Sun.

Its surface temperature is 5,818 K, and it is 12 times more massive than the Sun. Its absolute magnitude is −6.87, and it is 1,600 light-years away. It is rotating at a speed of around 28 km/s, and so may take a year to rotate fully.

Only around 10 million years old, Delta Canis Majoris has stopped fusing hydrogen in its core, Its outer envelope is beginning to expand and cool, and in the next 100,000 years it will become a red supergiant as its core fuses heavier and heavier elements, Once it has an iron core, it will collapse and explode as a supernova.

If Delta Canis Majoris were as close to Earth as Sirius is, it would be as bright as a half-full moon.