[kuh-noh-puh
s] 
| 1. | Astronomy. a first-magnitude star in the constellation Carina: the second brightest star in the heavens. |
| 2. | an ancient seacoast city in Lower Egypt, 15 mi. (24 km) E of Alexandria. |
| Ca·no·pus 1 (kə-nō'pəs) An ancient city of northern Egypt east of Alexandria. It was the site of a great temple honoring Serapis. |
| Ca·no·pus 2 (kə-nō'pəs) n. A star, 650 light-years from Earth, in the constellation Carina. It is the second-brightest star in the sky. [Latin Canōpus, from Greek kanōpos, perhaps of Egyptian origin.] |
Canopus
ancient Egyptian city on the western coast of the Nile River delta, in al-Iskandariyah muhafazah (governorate). Known to the Greeks as Kanopos, its Egyptian name was PeGewat. The Canopic branch of the Nile is entirely silted up, but on the shore about 2 miles (3.22 km) from Abu Qir there are extensive remains, including the temple of the Greco-Egyptian god Serapis. Canopus was a centre of the ointment industry and a pleasure resort for the people of Alexandria
Learn more about Canopus with a free trial on Britannica.com.