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A tiny winter constellation of Canis Minor is found at opposite side of its mate of Canis Major separated by the Milky Way.
Its only point of interest is in alpha CMi, Procyon. The star is one of members that forms the large asterism of the Winter's Great Triangle with Betelgeuse, alpha Ori, and Sirius, alpha Canis Majoris.
The name of Procyon means "Before the Dog", coming from the fact that this star rises just before (about 11 minutes at Tokyo) Sirius. The distance is estimated about 11.4 light years; Procyon is nearly as close to us as Sirius (8.7 light years away).
Procyon had a former name of "Gomeisa", that means, "eye in tears". The star was regarded as being sad because many asterisms like Orion or bright stars in West Side of Milky Way left Gomeisa behind at the opposite side.
Now, Gomeisa is named another principal star, beta CMi with third magnitude.
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Guide for Deep Sky Objects
