The Sparkling triangle of the hunter and two dogs
From Orion’s Belt, Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky also known as α Canis Major, can be found toward the southeast. Several factors contribute to Sirius’s extraordinary brightness. First of all, it is only 8.6 light-years away from Earth—not the closest, but close enough. Also, Sirius is actually a binary system. The brighter star, or Sirius A, being larger and hotter than the Sun, making it the brightest star in the night sky in terms of apparent magnitude.
After finding Betelgeuse in Orion and Sirius in Canis Major, extend from Betelgeuse in Orion to Betelgeuse to find the bright star Procyon of Canis Minor. Together, the three stars form the famous Winter Triangle.
What? The Dogs Aren’t Actually the Hunter’s?!
Although Canis Major and Canis Minor lie close to Orion in the sky, ancient myths reveal little connection among them. In fact, Greek mythology draws no relationship between Canis Major and Canis Minor at all.
Canis Major
In Greek and Roman mythology, Canis Major represents a legendary hound named Laelaps, known for its unmatched speed—no prey could ever escape it. Laelaps passed through many owners before being gifted to Cephalus, son of Hermes, god of travel and messengers. One tale describes a cunning fox that wreaked havoc on a small town north of Athens. Said to be uncatchable, the fox presented a paradox when Laelaps was sent to chase it. However, the paradox of an unstoppable hunter chasing an uncatchable prey caught the attention of Zeus, who froze the chase in time and placed Laelaps in the sky.
Canis Minor
Canis Minor, on the other hand, is associated with a dog named Maera, loyal companion to Icarius. After receiving the gift of winemaking from Dionysus, Icarius shared his wine with local shepherds. Mistaking drunkenness for poisoning, they killed him. Maera, heartbroken, guided Erigone, Icarius’s daughter, to the body. Overwhelmed by grief, both took their own lives. Their tragedy was followed by divine retribution: the island of Ceos, where the murderers had fled, suffered scorching heat brought by Procyon, resulting in famine and plague.
Different culture, different story
In Arabian folklore, Sirius was known as Alhabor, meaning “the one who crossed,” while Procyon was called Algomeisa, “the weeping one.” Why is that? Alhabor and Algomeisa were sisters. Their brother was Canopus, the second-brightest star located in the constellation Carina. In this version of the story, Alhabor crossed the Milky Way to reunite with Canopus, leaving Algomeisa behind in sorrow. Her constant weeping dimmed her light, making her appear fainter than her radiant siblings.
Starfire and the Dog Days of Summer
The word ‘Sirius’ comes from the ancient Greek word “Σείριος”, meaning ‘scorching’. In ancient Greece, when Sirius appeared at dawn, it meant that the scorching days of summer had arrived, also known as the Dog Days. A common saying described this period as the time when “Sirius spits out flames, making the Sun even hotter.” When considered alongside the myth of Canis Minor, both Sirius and Procyon were believed to possess the power of heat and scorching.
During these blazing days, farmers suffered as crops withered and soil cracked. On the island of Ceos, prayers were offered to Zeus, who eventually responded by sending cool northern winds that arrived approximately 40 days after the dog days began. Since then, there has been a custom of performing rituals before the dog days.
Observation Guide
The Winter Triangle is easy to observe and ideal for beginners, especially from late November to early April in areas with little light pollution. Depending on the location: in the Northern Hemisphere, look south; in the Southern Hemisphere, the triangle appears almost directly overhead, with Sirius shining as the brightest star in the night sky!
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Easter Egg
On June 15, 2025, Crocodile fell asleep by the river, again.
In his dreams, the charming hunter appeared, again.
Differently, there are two dogs chasing each other at the hunter's feet.
Crocodile gave up the daydream of becoming the hunter's pet, and drifted off to sleep, again.