Procyon

American  

[proh-see-on] / ˈproʊ siˌɒn /

noun

Astronomy.

1. a first-magnitude star in the constellation Canis Minor.

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Procyon British  

/ ˈprəʊsɪən /

noun

1. the brightest star in the constellation Canis Minor, a binary with a very faint companion. Visual magnitude: 0.34; spectral type: F5IV; distance: 114 light years

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Procyon Scientific  

/ prō′sē-ŏn′ /

1. A very bright binary star in the constellation Canis Minor, with an apparent magnitude of 0.34. Scientific name: Alpha Canis Minoris.

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Etymology

Origin of Procyon

1650–60; < Latin < Greek Prokýōn name of a star, equivalent to pro- pro- ² + kýōn dog ( see hound ¹); so called because it rises just before Sirius, the Dog Star

Example Sentences

“Just because there’s one data point, I wouldn’t say that there’s a sign of economic weakness,” said Massimo Santicchia, head of U.S. equities at Procyon.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

Along with Sirius and Procyon, which star in Orion makes up the third star in the Winter Triangle asterism?

From Slate • Oct. 5, 2023

What he means is that if you had to identify which animal was going through your garbage, you'd call it a raccoon, rather than saying it was "a mammal" or Procyon lotor.

From Salon • Aug. 28, 2023

Above were splendid views of Sirius and Procyon, two of the brightest stars in the velvet-black night sky.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 2, 2021

About 60,000 years hence, Procyon will be near the star θ Canis Majoris, and will then—like Sirius—have passed across the Milky Way.

From Astronomical Curiosities Facts and Fallacies by Gore, J. Ellard