“Dog Days,” Sirius & Star Study
July 22, 2008 by Mary Emma Allen
Filed under Parenting
Although we often think of the “Dog Days of Summer,” (our theme this week) as referring to those lazy, hazy, hot July and August days, some say they originated with mythology and Sirius, the “dog star,” the brightest one in summer.
In my previous post, What Are the “Dog Days of Summer?”, I explain, the term seems to go way back to mythology and the conjunction of Sirius (called the “dog star”) and the sun, which occurs in mid summer.
Why not take some time this week, and throughout the summer to study the stars and constellations? These are perfect nights, when there are no clouds, to find an open space and look at the stars with youngsters. Look for Sirius, the brightest star in the constellation Canius Major. In fact, Sirius is the brightest star seen in the northern hemisphere.
(Amazon images)
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen
