The Dog Star

With the new Astro Pup, Sophie, dogs have been on the mind of us here at Astro Rails.  On the clear nights, when Sophie goes out for her evening patrol,  I wonder if she notices the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius.  Located in the constellations Canis Major, or the Big Dog, Sirius is visible due south in the night sky this time of year.

Sirius got it's dog star nickname in ancient times.  People thought that because in the summer time, the star was daytime sky, that it was helping to make the summer temperatures warmer, thus the dog days of summer.