Dog Star
noun

- the brightest star in the sky; in Canis Major

- a bluish-white star in the constellation Canis Major; Alpha (α) Canis Majoris A. A vertex of the Winter Triangle and the brightest star in the night sky

Vocabulary(dot)com, Wiktionary

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WORD ORIGIN

The term "Dog Star" originates from ancient Latin and Greek descriptions of Sirius as part of the constellation Canis Major. Its name reflects its brightness and its significant role in ancient cultures, particularly its connection to the hot summer months and its symbolic representation as a dog.

The earliest recorded use of the term "Dog Star" dates back to 1558, as noted in a translation by Thomas Phaer, a translator and physician.

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DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

Man's best friend isn't just on Earth — it's also in the heavens. Sirius, the Dog Star, has been captivating humans since ancient times with its brilliant blue-white glow. As the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius outshines all its stellar neighbours, appearing twice as luminous as the next brightest star, Canopus.

Located in the constellation Canis Major, or "Great Dog”, Sirius lives up to its canine association. The ancient Egyptians called it Sopdet and associated its rising with the annual flooding of the Nile, a crucial event for agriculture. This celestial timekeeping led to Sirius playing a pivotal role in the Egyptian calendar.

Despite its brilliance, Sirius is a relatively close neighbour, just 8.6 light-years away from Earth. It's actually a binary star system, with a smaller, denser white dwarf companion nicknamed the "Pup”. This cosmic duo dances around each other, completing an orbit every 50 years.

Sirius has left its mark on human culture, from ancient mythologies to modern literature. Its name, derived from the Greek word for "scorching" or “glowing” hints at its association with the hot summer months — the origin of the phrase "dog days of summer".

- Paul Smith -

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SYNONYMS

asterism, astral body (ember, flame), astronomical body, asteroid, beacon (in the night), ball of fire, burning sphere, candle in the void, celestial beacon (body, diamond, ember, lantern, light, object, orb, celestial sphere), comet, cosmic body (diamond, firefly, glimmer, jewel, nightlight, object, sparkle), distant beacon (sun), ethereal flame, fireball, firepoint, fixed star, galactic glowworm, guiding light, heavenly body (light, sparkle), interstellar beacon, lantern of the night, lodestar, luminous body (sphere), luminary, meteoroid, moon, night beacon, night light, north star, nocturnal beacon, planet, planetoid, point of light, satellite, shining orb (sentinel, star), sidereal object, STAR, stellar beacon (body, flare, object), starry sentinel, sun, terrene, twinkle, twinkler, twinkling diamond, twinkling gem in the heavens, twinkling light, universal lantern, void flicker, wandering light (star), watcher in the sky, world

ankle-biter (-nipper), attack dog, barker, barking buddy, best friend, biscuit-eater, bitch, bone-chewer, bow-wow, canine, collar-wearer, cur, DOG, domesticated wolf, fido, foot-warmer, four-legged friend, fur baby, furry alarm clock (companion), good boy/girl, guard/guide dog, hound, kibble-muncher, lap dog, lap warmer, lapdog, leash-puller, loyal companion, man's best friend, mongrel, mutt, pack member, paw pal, pooch, pup, puppy, rover, slobber machine, sniffer dog, snout-sniffer, sofa hog, stick-chaser, stray, tail-wagger, waggy-tailed friend, walkies enthusiast, watchdog, water-bowl tipper, whelp, whiskerer, woofer, yard guardian, yapper

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

"In August, look for the DOG STAR Sirius rising in the east before dawn, especially as the month advances."

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