Other Names:
- Dog Star
- Canicula
- Aschere
- Alpha Canis Majoris
- HR 2491
- HD 48915
Data:
- Right Ascension: 06 45 08.9
- Declination: -16 42 58
- Apparent Magnitude: -1.46
- Absolute Magnitude: 0.00
- Distance: 8.6 LY
- Spectral Type: A1Vm
Constellation:
Sirius Information:
Sirius, also known as the Dog Star, is the brightest star in the sky. It is also the sixth closest star to Earth. at 8.6 light years. Its name comes from the Greek word for scorching. In 1844, F.W. Bessel used analysis of its motion to determine that it had a companion. This companion was confirmed by observations in 1862 and is now known to be a white dwarf. Sirius B, the companion, has received considerable attention itself, since it is the first white dwarf with a spectrum to show a gravitational red shift as predicted by the general theory of relativity. Sirius is located in the constellation Canis Major.