<p>The circled star is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procyon" rel="noreferrer">Procyon</a> (α CMi). The other stars, from the top, are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castor_(star)" rel="noreferrer">Castor</a> (α Gem), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollux_(star)" rel="noreferrer">Pollux</a> (β Gem), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kappa_Geminorum" rel="noreferrer">Al Kirkab</a> (κ Gem), then the almost central triangle formed by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_Geminorum" rel="noreferrer">Wasat</a> (δ Gem), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeta_Geminorum" rel="noreferrer">Mekbuda</a> (ζ Gem), and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambda_Geminorum" rel="noreferrer">Alkibash</a> (λ Gem), then to its right <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_Geminorum" rel="noreferrer">Alhena</a> (γ Gem) and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi_Geminorum" rel="noreferrer">Alzirr</a> (ξ Gem). Just above and to the right of circled Procyon is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_Canis_Minoris" rel="noreferrer">Gomeisa</a> (β CMi), and at bottom right the brightest star in the image is also the brightest star in the sky, viz. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirius" rel="noreferrer">Sirius</a> (α CMa), and to its right <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_Canis_Majoris" rel="noreferrer">Murzim</a> (β CMa).</p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>I visited southwest Virginia many years ago. Nice neck of the woods. I stayed in Wise, but also went to Norton a few times.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-12-12T08:53:50.503Z
Accepted as the answer, thank you very much for your fast response! 
rclev
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-12-13T17:56:14.507Z
Just out of curiosity and in the vein of the OP: Is there anything special about Procyon? And known planets, is it close etc.? (Yes, I can google all that, but it would be nice to have a few details here for posterity.) Any while I'm not a diagnosed schizophrenic I do read SF, which probably puts me somewhere on the spectrum, if you want, because just imagine other people start dreaming about this star, start building clay mounts in their living room and feel drawn to a certain location accidentally in the U.S.! ;-) Then this would be the first time it surfaced. Just sayin'.
Peter - Reinstate Monica
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-12-13T18:11:05.937Z
@Peter-ReinstateMonica It's a main sequence star with a white dwarf companion, neither are known to have planets. It's quite close (11 ly) and one of the brightest stars in the sky, so it's been ascribed plenty of cultural and astrological significance. It is, of course, [the home of the Chenjesu](https://wiki.uqm.stack.nl/Procyon).
Schwern
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-12-14T08:39:26.327Z
@Peter-ReinstateMonica Good list at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stars_and_planetary_systems_in_fiction#Procyon_(Alpha_Canis_Minoris)
Mark Morgan Lloyd
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-12-12T08:07:26.067Z
2023-12-13T18:12:23.670Z
2023-12-13T18:12:23.670Z
Pierre Paquette
<p>From this image, can you help me identify the star circled in yellow? This picture was taken mostly above my head, but facing slightly southeast, from the southwestern corner of Virginia.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/BimGu.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/BimGu.jpg" alt="unknown star" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-12-15T04:51:29.487Z
For future reference, most star fields can be identified with https://nova.astrometry.net/
Greg Miller
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-12-15T12:40:32.207Z
@GregMiller I would write an answer (or possibly even a question and answer) containing that, otherwise we could get an inexhaustible supply of similar questions that aren't duplicates.
ProfRob
<observational-astronomy><star>
What star is this?
rclev
# What star is this?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-12-12)

From this image, can you help me identify the star circled in yellow? This picture was taken mostly above my head, but facing slightly southeast, from the southwestern corner of Virginia.

[![unknown star](https://i.sstatic.net/BimGu.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/BimGu.jpg)

**Tags:** observational-astronomy, star

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: For future reference, most star fields can be identified with https://nova.astrometry.net/  
> **username_2**: @username_1 I would write an answer (or possibly even a question and answer) containing that, otherwise we could get an inexhaustible supply of similar questions that aren't duplicates.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2023-12-12. Score: 25 | Accepted answer

The circled star is [Procyon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procyon) (α CMi). The other stars, from the top, are [Castor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castor_(star)) (α Gem), [Pollux](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollux_(star)) (β Gem), [Al Kirkab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kappa_Geminorum) (κ Gem), then the almost central triangle formed by [Wasat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_Geminorum) (δ Gem), [Mekbuda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeta_Geminorum) (ζ Gem), and [Alkibash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambda_Geminorum) (λ Gem), then to its right [Alhena](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_Geminorum) (γ Gem) and [Alzirr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi_Geminorum) (ξ Gem). Just above and to the right of circled Procyon is [Gomeisa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_Canis_Minoris) (β CMi), and at bottom right the brightest star in the image is also the brightest star in the sky, viz. [Sirius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirius) (α CMa), and to its right [Murzim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_Canis_Majoris) (β CMa).

Hope this helps!

I visited southwest Virginia many years ago. Nice neck of the woods. I stayed in Wise, but also went to Norton a few times.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Accepted as the answer, thank you very much for your fast response!   
> **username_4**: Just out of curiosity and in the vein of the OP: Is there anything special about Procyon? And known planets, is it close etc.? (Yes, I can google all that, but it would be nice to have a few details here for posterity.) Any while I'm not a diagnosed schizophrenic I do read SF, which probably puts me somewhere on the spectrum, if you want, because just imagine other people start dreaming about this star, start building clay mounts in their living room and feel drawn to a certain location accidentally in the U.S.! ;-) Then this would be the first time it surfaced. Just sayin'.  
> **username_5**: @username_4-ReinstateMonica It's a main sequence star with a white dwarf companion, neither are known to have planets. It's quite close (11 ly) and one of the brightest stars in the sky, so it's been ascribed plenty of cultural and astrological significance. It is, of course, [the home of the Chenjesu](https://wiki.uqm.stack.nl/Procyon).  
> **username_6**: @username_4-ReinstateMonica Good list at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stars_and_planetary_systems_in_fiction#Procyon_(Alpha_Canis_Minoris)  

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