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Name: Robert
Status: student
Age: 17
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 1999 - 2000
Question:
Why is Sirius(the Dog star/Canis Major) the brightest star in our galaxy?

Replies:
Robert -

Sirius is the brightest star in our sky, not necessarily in the galaxy. The apparent brightness of a star is a function of its absolute brightness and the distance to the star. (This assumes that you are comparing the same frequencies of light. Not all stars put off the same frequency of light.)

You might want to read about apparent and absolute brightness. It will help you to understand better. It is also interesting to explore why it is called the dog star.... and how it relates to the "dog days of summer."

Larry Krengel


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