In the Stars

Dear Dog Lady,

Why are these lazy, hazy crazy days of summer called “dog days”?

Claudia, Portland, ORE

Dog Lady replies: The truth, dear Claudia, lies in the stars, not in your dog. The term is astronomical and refers to Sirius, the brightest star, also called the Dog Star, which is part of the Canis Major constellation. In these days and nights, from July 3 to August 11, Sirius (derived from ancient Greek word for “scorch”) comes into its closest conjunction with the Sun so it glows brilliantly in the sky to the naked eye.

Claudia, please allow Dog Lady to digress and throw out more starry Sirius information. If you are a Harry Potter fan, you might recall that Sirius Black is the name of Potter’s godfather who can turn himself into a dog as events warrant. In the “Prisoner of Azkaban,” Sirius Black (played by Gary Oldman in the movie) also reveals himself as one of Harry’s greatest loving watchdogs.

In the subsequent “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” author J. K. Rowling writes Sirius Black into a star-crossed corner. Beyond that, Dog Lady won’t say another word.

Posted by Dog Lady at August 3, 2004 08:49 AM