CANES VENATICI Meaning and
Definition
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Canes Venatici is a constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere that is Latin for "hunting dogs." It is relatively small and forms a distinct shape in the sky. The constellation was named in the 17th century by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius.
In terms of its celestial position, Canes Venatici is located between the constellations Ursa Major and Boötes. It can be easily identified by its two brightest stars, Cor Caroli and Chara. Cor Caroli, also known as Alpha Canum Venaticorum, is the brighter of the two stars and means "Charles' heart" in Latin, in honor of King Charles I of England. Chara, the second brightest star in the constellation, is Greek for "joy" or "delight" and represents one of the hunting dogs.
Canes Venatici is not associated with any specific mythological or historical significance. However, it is often depicted as a pair of dogs chasing after the nearby constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear. These "hunting dogs" represent two celestial hounds accompanying Boötes, the Herdsman, in his pursuit. Despite its modest size and lack of prominent stars, Canes Venatici remains a notable constellation and a recognized part of the night sky.
Etymology of CANES VENATICI
The etymology of the term "canes venatici" can be broken down as follows:
1. Canes: The word "canes" is derived from Latin, where it simply means "dogs". It is the plural form of "canis", which means "dog" in Latin. The use of "canes" in this context refers to dogs used for hunting, specifically in the field of venery (hunting).
2. Venatici: The word "venatici" is also derived from Latin and comes from the term "venatio", which means "hunt" or "hunting" in Latin. The "-atici" suffix is used to form an adjective denoting "pertaining to" or "associated with". Therefore, "venatici" translates to "relating to hunting".
