Canopus is the brightest star in the southern constellation of Carina and the second-brightest star in the night sky.
Located around 310 light-years from the Sun, Canopus is a bright giant of spectral type A9, so it is essentially white when seen with the naked eye. It has a luminosity over 10,000 times the luminosity of the Sun, is eight times as massive, and has expanded to 71 times the Sun's radius.
Within the show, Canopus is also used as a reference to 'Keith Flick', as he is the one who can guide 'Koku'.