The Canes Venatici reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Canes Venatici

Canes Venatici
Abbreviation	CVn
Genitive	Canum Venaticorum
Meaning in English	the Hunting Dogs
Right ascension	13 h
Declination	40°
Visible to latitude	Between 90° and −40°
Best visible	May
Area  - Total	Ranked 38th 465 sq. deg.
Number of stars with apparent magnitude < 3	1
Brightest star  - Apparent magnitude	Cor Caroli 2.90
Meteor showers	Canes Venaticids
Bordering constellations	Ursa Major Boötes Coma Berenices

Canes Venatici (the hunting dogs) is a small northern constellation that was introduced by Johannes Hevelius in the 17th century. It is supposed to represent the dogs Chara and Asterion held on a leash by Boötes.

Among the objects in Canes Venatici is the Whirlpool Galaxy, M51, a spiral galaxy that is seen face on. This was the first galaxy recognised as having a spiral structure, this structure being first observed by Lord Rosse in 1845.

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