Tau Canis Majoris

Starbox short
name=τ Canis Majoris
epoch=J2000.0
constell=Canis Major
ra=07^h18^m42.4^s
dec=−24°57′15″
spectral=O9Ib
appmag_v=+4.37
dist_ly=3200 ± 2200
dist_pc=980 ± 680
names=30 Canis Majoris, HR 2782, HD 57061, CD−24°5176, HIP 35415, SAO 173446, GC 9736, ADS 5977, CCDM 07187-2457

Tau Canis Majoris (τ CMa / τ Canis Majoris) is an eclipsing spectroscopic binary in the constellation Canis Major and the brightest star of an open cluster designated NGC 2362. It is approximately 3200 light years from Earth.

τ Canis Majoris is classified as an O-type blue supergiant with a mean apparent magnitude of +4.37. It is a Beta Lyrae type variable star with a period of 1.28 days, over which time its brightness varies from magnitude +4.32 to +4.37.