dipper@utastro.UUCP (Debbie Byrd) (01/29/85)
The brightest star visible from Earth is called Sirius. More on this star and its constellation -- after this. January 29 The Big and Little Dogs Anyone can find the star Sirius, which is a fair-sized star, not far away -- and the brightest star visible in Earth's sky. Sirius rises in the southeast, and arcs across the southern sky -- with no near competitor in brilliance except Venus, now in the west after sunset. As Venus sets, Sirius climbs still higher in the sky -- to become the brightest star in the winter night. Sirius is part of the constellation Canis Major, the Big Dog. There's a Little Dog, too, located somewhat higher in the sky -- with its leading light called Procyon. The Big and Little Dogs are said to be companions to the constellation Orion, the mighty hunter of mythology. The dogs follow Orion across the sky. Orion is recognizable for his belt -- those three medium-bright stars that form a short, straight row in the south -- and the belt stars point to Sirius. The rest of the constellation Canis Major -- the Big Dog -- is located around and mostly below Sirius. This constellation is a striking pattern -- with a star on either side of Sirius -- and a line of stars leading down into a triangle -- supposedly the hindquarters of the dog. The constellation may or may not look like a dog to you. But it's a noticeable pattern you can pick out just by looking in an unobstructed southern evening sky. Script by Deborah Byrd. (c) Copyright 1984, 1985 McDonald Observatory, University of Texas at Austin