Sirius
Product information
Description
Sirius is a blazing blue-white beacon, unmatched in brilliance across the night sky. Its vibrant shimmer often displays subtle rainbow hues when viewed close to the horizon, making it a favorite of stargazers across both hemispheres.
Additional Information
- Constellation
- Canis Major
- Spectral Type
- A1V
- Apparent Magnitude
- -1.46
- Distance (Light Years)
- 8.6
- Right Ascension
- 06h 45m 08.9s
- Declination
- −16° 42′ 58″
- Solar Masses
- 2.02
- Radius (Solar)
- 1.71
- Temperature (Kelvin)
- 9940
- Age (Million Years)
- 200
Discovery
- Ancient Civilizations
- Egyptians, Greeks, Babylonians
- Historical Significance
- Sirius has been revered across civilizations. The ancient Egyptians associated its heliacal rising with the annual flooding of the Nile, tying it to fertility and prosperity. Greek and Babylonian astronomers tracked Sirius as part of their early star catalogs.
Cultural Significance
- Mythology
- In Greek mythology, Sirius represented the dog of Orion, the hunter, and was said to chase the celestial hare, Lepus. Its intense brightness also influenced Roman beliefs about the 'dog days' of summer.
- Navigation
- For millennia, Sirius has been a key navigational star. Polynesian voyagers, among the most skilled celestial navigators, referred to it as 'Kaʻulua'—the 'Queen of Heaven'—using it to sail vast ocean distances.
- Modern Reference
- Sirius is deeply embedded in modern culture, from the name of the Harry Potter character Sirius Black—who transforms into a dog—to NASA's use of its radio signals for calibration. It’s also a favorite in sci-fi lore and astronomy education.
Notable Features
- Stellar Motion
- Sirius is approaching the solar system and will continue to brighten slightly over the next 60,000 years before gradually dimming as it moves away.
- Binary System
- Sirius is a binary system comprising Sirius A, a bright main-sequence star, and Sirius B, a faint white dwarf—the first of its kind to be discovered.
User Dedications
- Dedications
- This star has not been claimed yet. Be the first to dedicate it to someone special!