Sirius, designated Alpha Canis Majoris, is the brightest star in the night sky with a visual magnitude of −1.46. It is a close binary star system, consisting of Sirius A, a white main-sequence star, and a faint companion white dwarf, Sirius B, which was originally a massive bluish star that became a red giant before shedding its outer layers and collapsing to a white dwarf. It is one of Earth's near neighbors, at 2.6 parsecs (8.6 light-years). Sirius A is about twice as massive as the Sun and has an absolute magnitude of 1.42. It is 25 times more luminous than the Sun but has a lower luminosity than other bright stars. The system is 200 to 300 million years old. Sirius is known as the "Dog Star", due to its prominence in its constellation, Canis Major. The rising of Sirius marked the flooding of the Nile in Ancient Egypt and the "dog days" of summer for the ancient Greeks, while to the Polynesians it was important for Pacific navigation.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirius

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1861:

Alexander H. Stephens, Vice President of the Confederate States of America, gave an extemporaneous speech laying out the Confederacy's rationale for seceding from the United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornerstone_Speech

1968:

War of Attrition: The Battle of Karameh took place between the Israel Defense Forces and allied troops of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Jordanian Armed Forces. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Karameh

2006:

A man smashed the statue of Phra Phrom at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, with a hammer, and was subsequently beaten to death by bystanders. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erawan_Shrine

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

carceral: (formal or literary) Of or pertaining to imprisonment or a prison. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/carceral

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Everything rhythmically organic is true. Everything, which results from the proper feeling for rhythmically organized spiritual units, is true and alive — alive within itself. When we lose the sense for such true beauty we lose our natural sense for the rich flavor of life, which is the basis for all inspirational work.   --Hans Hofmann https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Hans_Hofmann