South of the Dog Star

The night sky's two brightest stars — Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris) and Canopus (Alpha Carinae) frame the northern and southern boundaries of this star map. Between these two stars lie many superb deep-sky objects, especially galaxies and globulars.

Most beginning observers know how to locate Sirius — draw a line down from Orion's belt. If you continue that line for an equal distance past Sirius, you'll find yourself amid the stars of Puppis the Stern, most of which lies on this map.