Talking Tails - 8/8/17

Surprisingly, the dog days of summer have nothing to do with actual dogs, instead they are associated with the stars, specifically Sirius. It is the brightest star in the sky, with the exception of the sun, and part of the constellation, Canis Major, the Greater Dog.

During the summer, Sirius rises and sets with the sun, actually being visible in the sky during the day. The dog days of summer coincide with the morning rise of the Dog Star, Sirius. Its alignment with the sun occurs for 40 days, typically July 3 to August 11.

The term, “dog days of summer,” has its origins in ancient times. Because of its brightness, the Greeks and Romans thought Sirius gave off heat, like the sun, and contributed to the hot sultry summers, coining the term, “dog days.” They did not look forward to seeing Sirius in the morning sky because the hot season was characterized by drought and disease. While the “dog days” are usually some of the warmest, the heat is not due to any radiation given off by Sirius. Summer heat is simply a result of the earth’s tilt toward the sun.

A little bit of a history lesson for you…now ice cream time for us!

Talk to you soon!
Buster and Joey