How did the constellation called canis minor get its name?

Its a constellation with only 2 stars and is on the foot of the constellation geminiHow did the constellation called canis minor get its name?The Latin named constellations were named by Claudius Ptolemy, Greek-speaking mathematician, geographer, astronomer, and astrologer. He lived c. 90 鈥?c. 168 AD in the Roman Empire and was almost certainly a Roman citizen with a name like Claudius.



Ptolemy's list of 48 constellations includes Canis Minor, which means "small dog" in Latin. It is said to represent one of the dogs following Orion the hunter.



Canis Minor is a small constellation mainly consisting of the two stars, Procyon and Gomeisa . Procyon is the eighth brightest star in the night sky. Procyon means "anterior dog" in Greek, as it rises before the Dog Star, Sirius, of Canis Major. Due to the brightness of Procyon, this was likely target for Ptolemy to create a constellation.



Hope this helps!How did the constellation called canis minor get its name?People with overwild imaginations believed that it looks like a little dog :) Supposedly Orion's dog.How did the constellation called canis minor get its name?Because #1) the ancient greeks were VERY imaginative.

and #2) it is supposed to represent a small dog that is following Orion the Hunter.