Betelgeuze, in Orion, Procyon, in Canis Minor, and Sirius form a nearly equilateral triangle. These stars with Naos, in the Ship, and Phaet, in the Dove, form a huge figure known as the Egyptian "X."
From earliest times Sirius has been known as the Dog of Orion. It is 324 times brighter than the average sixth-magnitude star, and is the nearest to the earth of all the stars in this latitude, its distance being 8.7 light years. At this distance the Sun would appear as a star a little brighter than the Pole Star.
ARGO NAVIS (är´-go nā´-vis)—THE SHIP ARGO. (Face South.)
Location.—Argo is situated southeast of Canis Major. If a line joining Betelgeuze and Sirius be prolonged 18° southeast, it will point out Naos, a star of the second magnitude in the rowlock of the Ship. This star is in the southeast corner of the Egyptian "X."
The star π is of a deep yellow or orange hue. It has three little stars above it, two of which form a pretty pair.
The star ζ has a companion, which is a test for an opera-glass.
The star κ is a double for an opera-glass.