Canes Venatici: The Hunting Dogs Constellation Guide
Learn about some of the dogs roaming the night sky and the job they have in the heavens.
Quick Reference: Canes Venatici
- What it is: A small northern constellation known as the Hunting Dogs, holding the leash for Bootes as he chases the Great Bear.
- Best time to see it: Late April through early July, high in the eastern sky by mid-evening and almost overhead at midnight.
- Where to look: About one-third of the way down from the end of the Big Dipper’s handle.
- Brightest star: Cor Caroli (magnitude 2.8), meaning “Heart of Charles,” named for a Stuart king of England.
- Second star: Chara (Beta Canum Venaticorum, magnitude 4.2), a Sun-like yellow dwarf about 27 light-years away.
- Deep-sky prize: The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51), one of the finest face-on spiral galaxies for a small backyard telescope.
On a clear spring night in 2026, look almost straight up at midnight. Between the crooked handle of the Big Dipper and the bright orange star Arcturus, you will find a quiet patch of sky with only two stars worth noticing. Those two stars, and everything they lead your eye to, make up the constellation Canes Venatici, better known as the Hunting Dogs. Small as it is, this little constellation carries one of the sky’s best cosmic legends and hides one of the finest galaxies you can catch with a backyard telescope.
Canes Venatici: The Hunting Dogs in the Sky
Canes Venatici sits high in the eastern sky through the mid to late evening in spring, and stands almost directly overhead around midnight. Its two main stars mark the position of two celestial dogs held on a leash by Bootes, the Bear Driver. Their job in the old star maps is simple: help Bootes chase the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear, on her nightly march around the celestial pole. Once you learn where the Big Dipper’s handle points, the Hunting Dogs are easy to find. Drop a short line from the end of the handle, roughly one-third of the way down toward Coma Berenices, and the two dogs are right there in the gap.
How to Find Canes Venatici Tonight
You do not need a telescope to find the Hunting Dogs. You need a clear northern horizon, a dark sky away from streetlights, and about five minutes of patience for your eyes to adjust. Face north, find the Big Dipper (it will be high up in April, May, and June), and follow the curve of the handle. The Hunting Dogs sit just south of the last two stars of that handle.
- Best months: April through June, with peak height in May.
- Best time: 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. local time.
- Naked-eye view: Two stars. Cor Caroli is easy. Chara takes a moment.
- Binocular view: Both stars plus a scatter of faint field stars.
- Telescope view: The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) sits at the very top of the constellation.
Cor Caroli: The Heart of Charles
There are only two stars that mark the Hunting Dogs, and Cor Caroli is the brighter of the two. It is known as “the Heart of Charles.” According to a popular story, the star was named by Edmund Halley in honor of King Charles II of England. The suggestion to name it came from Sir Charles Scarborough, the court physician, who claimed that “it shone with a special brilliance on the eve of the King’s return to London on May 29, 1660.”
Look closer at the history, though, and the story turns. The star’s original name was Cor Caroli Regis Martyris, or “Heart of Charles the Martyred King,” a tribute to Charles I, who was executed in 1649. Cor Caroli marks the position of Chara, one of the two hunting dogs in the mythological picture. The other dog, named Asterion, is marked by the second, fainter star of the constellation.
Modern astronomy has added a layer to the folklore. Cor Caroli is a double star, easy to split even in a small backyard telescope, and its brighter component is one of the first stars ever discovered to have an unusually strong magnetic field, according to NASA. The field is so strong that the star’s surface chemistry changes as it rotates.
Chara: The Second Hunting Dog
The dog on the leash beside Cor Caroli is a much quieter star called Chara, the formal name for Beta Canum Venaticorum. It is roughly magnitude 4.2, easily visible under a rural sky but tricky from most suburbs. Chara is a Sun-like yellow dwarf about 27 light-years from Earth, close as neighbors go, and one of the reasons astronomers keep coming back to this constellation.
Deep-Sky Wonders: Galaxies Inside the Hunting Dogs
Small constellation, huge galaxy count. Canes Venatici sits well above the plane of our own Milky Way, so when you point a telescope at it, you look straight out into intergalactic space. That is why so many of the sky’s brightest galaxies live inside it.
| Object | Type | Magnitude | Best viewed with |
|---|---|---|---|
| M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy) | Face-on spiral | 8.4 | 4-inch telescope, dark sky |
| M63 (Sunflower Galaxy) | Spiral | 8.6 | 4-inch to 6-inch telescope |
| M94 (Croc’s Eye Galaxy) | Compact spiral | 8.2 | Small telescope, easy target |
| M3 | Globular star cluster | 6.2 | Binoculars show it as a fuzzy dot |
The Whirlpool Galaxy is the crown jewel. It was the first galaxy ever recognized as a spiral, drawn by Lord Rosse in 1845, and it is one of the few galaxies where an amateur can actually trace the arms in a modest backyard scope. On a dark, moonless night in May, aim just off the end of the Big Dipper’s handle and enjoy the view.
Regional Viewing Guide: US and Canada
| Region | Best months | Overhead by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Northeast + Great Lakes | April to June | Midnight local | Sits very high; best galaxy views of the year. |
| US Southeast | April to June | Midnight local | Watch for spring haze; wait for a dry cold front. |
| US Midwest + Plains | April to June | Midnight local | Dark rural skies make M51 a naked-eye smudge. |
| US Southwest + Mountain West | April to July | Midnight local | Dry air = excellent transparency for galaxies. |
| US Pacific Coast | April to July | Midnight local | Coastal marine layer can cost you an hour. |
| Canadian Prairies + North | April to early June | Late evening | Long twilight cuts the observing window by June. |
| Canadian Atlantic | April to June | Midnight local | High altitude in the sky makes it easy to spot. |
Folklore of the Hunting Dogs
Canes Venatici is one of the newer constellations. The Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius mapped it in his 1690 star atlas, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, using stars that the old Greek and Arab star maps had left blank. He drew two dogs on a leash held by Bootes, and named them Asterion (meaning “little star”) and Chara (meaning “joy”). The names stuck.
Almanac readers who watch the spring sky often ask why so many small constellations sit in this stretch. The old maps had a rough rule: if a patch of sky held no bright stars, mapmakers filled the space with hunting scenes, tools, or animals from daily life. Canes Venatici is a working dog constellation for a working sky.
Editor’s Tips for Your First View
- Pick a moonless night. A full or near-full moon will wash out Chara and every galaxy behind it. Check the Farmers’ Almanac full moon dates before you plan.
- Get out of town. Even a 30-minute drive from suburban light will double the number of stars you see.
- Give your eyes 20 minutes to adjust. No phone screens.
- Use a red flashlight for your star chart. White light resets your night vision.
- Start with the Big Dipper. Everything in the spring sky hangs off that shape.
For a broader tour of the season’s brightest sights, see the Farmers’ Almanac guide to the ten brightest stars and our monthly night sky guide. If you want the science behind Cor Caroli’s magnetism, NASA and the European Southern Observatory both keep updated stellar profiles.
Frequently Asked Questions About Canes Venatici
What does Canes Venatici mean?
Canes Venatici is Latin for “Hunting Dogs.” The constellation shows two dogs on a leash held by Bootes, the Bear Driver, as he chases the Great Bear across the northern sky.
When is the best time to see Canes Venatici?
Late April through early July, with the constellation high overhead around midnight local time in May. Pick a moonless night away from city lights for the best view.
How do I find Canes Venatici with the Big Dipper?
Locate the handle of the Big Dipper, then drop your gaze about one-third of the way down toward Coma Berenices. The two stars of Canes Venatici sit in that quiet stretch, with Cor Caroli the brighter of the pair.
Who named the star Cor Caroli?
Edmund Halley is usually credited with naming it, on the suggestion of court physician Sir Charles Scarborough, in honor of King Charles II of England after his return to London on May 29, 1660. Historians note the star’s original name, Cor Caroli Regis Martyris, honored the executed Charles I.
What galaxies are in Canes Venatici?
The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51), the Sunflower Galaxy (M63), and M94 all sit inside the small constellation, along with the bright globular cluster M3. M51 is the finest face-on spiral galaxy visible from most backyard telescopes.
Can I see Canes Venatici without a telescope?
Yes. The brighter star Cor Caroli is an easy naked-eye target under a rural sky. The second star Chara is fainter and needs a dark suburban or country sky. A pair of binoculars will reveal both stars plus a scatter of surrounding field stars.
Why is Cor Caroli a favorite of amateur astronomers?
Cor Caroli is a wide double star that separates cleanly even in a small backyard telescope. The primary star also has one of the strongest magnetic fields known among ordinary stars, which makes it a favorite study target for professional and amateur astronomers alike.
Pick a clear night in May, step outside at 11 p.m., and let your eyes settle. Find the Big Dipper, follow the curve of the handle, and let Bootes’ loyal hunting dogs quietly point you toward some of the finest galaxies in the northern sky.
Joe Rao
Joe Rao is an esteemed astronomer who writes for Space.com, Sky & Telescope, and Natural History Magazine. Mr. Rao is a regular contributor to the Farmers' Almanacand serves as an associate lecturer for the Hayden Planetarium in New York City.
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- Joe Rao
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