"The Little Dog"
Location: R.A. = 7h 30m, Dec. = 5 N
Mythology: The
most common references to Canis Minor, and its companion Canis Major, state
that they are Orion's two hunting dogs. Others claim that the dogs
belonged to Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, or Helen of Troy.
There is one story, however, that associates Canis Minor with Bootes.
Icarius, who received the secret of wine making from Dionysius, the Wine
God, was killed by peasants who thought Icarius was trying to kill them.
Icarius' dog, Maera, fetched his daughter Erigone, who killed herself when
she discovered her father was dead. The legend states that the Olympian
Gods were so moved by the story that they placed the figures in the stars
for all to see: Icarius became the constellation Bootes, and Erigone
the constellation Virgo. And Maera? He became the constellation
Canis Minor!
Other: Canis Minor has within it the star Procyon -- the eighth brightest star in the sky.