Procyon

Authors: IAU-WGSN Etymology Group, Susanne M Hoffmann, Youla Azkarrula

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The name originates from Greek "pro kyon", "before the dog" or "Pre-Dog". Historically, the Latin translation "Antecanis" was occasionally used. Today, this term is used as a star name in the constellation Canis Minor but in antiquity, it designated the area – originally likely a single-star asterism.

Etymology and History

The bright star Procyon was possibly used in Mesopotamia as an indicator for the rising of Cancer. The stars in Cancer are so faint that you can barely see them at dusk – but the bright Procyon rises at the same time, which is suitable for telling the time.

Spelling Variants:

• Prokyon (Greek),
• Procyon (Latinized Greek),
• Antecanis (Latin)

Ancient Sources

Examples of ancient Greek authors - see Canis Minor.

Eratosthenes

Pamias and Zucker (2013, 126-127)

Var. 1 (Περὶ τοῦ Προκυνóς): This is the constellation that precedes Canis Major. It is known as Orion’s Dog. It is said, in fact, that it was placed beside Orion because of the dog’s passion for hunting. The fact is that the Hare can be seen very close to it, along with other animals at its side.

Var. 2 (Προκυνóς): This is the dog that precedes the Great Dog, and it is called “Procyon” (Pre-Dog) because it comes before the Dog. It is Orion’s dog. Indeed, it is said that it was placed beside Orion because of his passion for hunting. The fact is that the Hare can be seen very close to it, and other animals by its side.

Procyon has three stars, one of which, the first [to rise], is bright. It bears a resemblance to the Dog, hence its name Procyon; moreover, it rises and sets before the Great Dog.

Almagest Προκύων

The Almagest is ambiguous: The brightest star (α CMi) is called "Prokyon", but also the entire constellation "Prokynos Asterismos"; so Ptolemy distinguishes the "star Procyon" and the "constellation Procyon".

id	Greek (Heiberg 1898)	English (Toomer 1984)	ident.
	Πρόκυνος ἀστερισμός.
1	ὁ ἐν τῷ αὐχένι	The star in the neck
2	ὁ κατὰ τῶν ὀπισθίωυ λαμπρὸς καλούμενος Προκύωυ.	The bright star just over the hindquarters, called Procyon
all	ἀστέρες β, ὧν α μεγέθους α, δ’ ἄ.	{2 stars, 1 of the first magnitude, 1 of the fourth}

Convex Hull for the stars inside Prokyon (CC BY Youla Azkarrula).

Stars within the Constellation Area

id	Label	IAU design.	description	Vmag
1	Procyon	HIP 37279	Constellation lines	0.37
2	Gomeisa	HIP 36188	Constellation lines	2.89

IAU Working Group on Star Names

The name was approved by the IAU WGSN on 2016/06/30.

Weblinks

• Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

Reference

• References (general)
• References (early modern)