Canopus from Mount Etna

From the photographer: “You may ask this question: what is the second brightest star in the sky after Sirius? Well this star is extremely difficult – if not impossible – to see in the skies of Europe. In fact, the star has a declination of −52 ° 41 ′ 44 degrees, or if you prefer it is about 37 ° from the celestial equator. This means that only those living at a latitude below 37 degrees can see Canopus. Practically in Europe the view is limited to very few territories including the southern area of ​​Sicily. Unfortunately, however, the places south of Sicily (excluding islands) are located more at a latitude of 37 ° and this next means that Canopus can be seen only in a few moments of the year when it will rise from the horizon to pass a short distance from this. But how to find Canopus?

A very handy trick is to rely on the sky as a map where Greek myths are recommended. Starting from the most interesting constellation of the winter sky Orion the hunter, it is necessary to move south towards his faithful Hunting Dog, who is aiming his prey the Hare to the right. Under the Hare, another prey seems to escape from the hunt, the Dove. The asterism of the Dove seems to point to Canopus so low on the horizon that it is barely visible through the atmospheric haze. And, … can you see Canopus?

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