"Dog Days of Summer" has nothing to do with dogs

The official Dog Days of Summer are the days between July 3 and August 11.

This goes back to the time of the ancient Greeks. Sirius is known as the Dog Star because it marks the nose of the constellation Canus Major, Orion’s hunting dog.

Viewed from Earth, Sirius is one of the brightest stars in the galaxy of the nighttime sky during most of the year. However, by July 3, Orion and Canus Major have moved to the daytime sky.

The great thinkers among the Greeks believed that the light and heat from Sirius, the Dog Star, combined with the sun, produced the hot days of summer. After August 11, Sirius disappears from the daytime sky and becomes the brightest star in the morning just before the sun comes up. Gradually Sirius, Canus Major, and Orion move to the nighttime sky as the summer passes into fall.

Dog days of summer should remind us that most dogs’ bodies are better equipped to handle cold weather than hot weather. Recently two German Shepherd police dogs in England died when an "experienced handler" left them in a hot car. He faces a fine and prison time. The story

Comments

[Jimmy]

"Recently two German Shepherd police dogs in England died when an experienced handler left them in a hot car. He faces a fine and prison time"

Let me get this straight.....a policeman left them in a hot car???? Holy crapola???
There's no way I could consider him an experienced handler? How stupid can one be?
Just goes to show...when you can't be anything else...you can always be a policeman?

[Jan]

Hey, I'm a volunteer cop and not stupid. But you're right, this guy was about as stupid as stupid gets.

[Jimmy]

Whoops...sorry Jan......guess you can tell I have a problem with authority figures. Especially "egos" with badges. There are a small percentage that I would consider professional, and I believe you to be one of the few.
Yep.....that's me...open mouth insert foot!!!LOL

[Khyra]

Are woo sirius?

I thought woo were Misty!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
PeeEssWoo: Nice PSA!

[Jan]

Jimmy, no offense taken and a great job of sucking up.

Khyra, we are siriusly Misty.

[Sue]

Both my boys hate the hot weather. So we take it very easy, and they are mostly inside during this time of year cooling off. Even short walks they do not have the enthusiasm for like they do at any other season.

[gordon]

Hey I hope that british cop gets cooked in a car so he knows the feeling.

[jackie]

mad dogs and englishmen go out in the midday sun...ammended to 'and texans'

[matt]

Interesting that the term has nothing to do with the animals themselves.

[Saint Lover]

I have seen this info before... amazing how we morph things and dont truly know the real origins of things, taking it for granted.

Its cool though!