Cosmic Scale
Canopus
Bright giant · 310 light-years
How big is Canopus?
Canopus is about 9.9 × 10⁷ km across.
See Canopus in 3D, at true scale
Canopus is the second-brightest star in the night sky and a favourite of spacecraft: its brightness and position make it an excellent reference point for navigation far from Earth.
At a glance
| Diameter | 9.9 × 10⁷ km |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1.59 × 10³¹ kg |
| Diameter compared with Earth | 7,750 × Earth |
| Distance | 310 light-years |
| Surface | 7,400 K |
| Brightness | 10,700 Suns |
| Type | Bright giant |
Good to know
- Many spacecraft have carried a 'Canopus star tracker' to work out which way they are pointing.
- It is too far south to be seen from most of Europe and the northern United States.
- It is burning helium in its core, a late and fairly brief stage of a big star's life.