The dog days of summer are here, but what exactly are they? I once thought that dog days were given the descriptive name because it was too hot, even for dogs to leave cool areas.
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Hubble Space Telescope image of Sirius, the “Dog Star.” photo: NASA
The dog days of summer were actually recognized by ancient Greek civilizations. In late July, the star Sirius and the constellation Canis Major begins to rise in the morning sky. The Greeks actually thought that it was the “dog star” Sirius that caused the hot weather that also impacts the Mediterranean Sea area.
The Greeks and other cultures recognized the dog days of summer as being from around July 23rd until August 23rd. This is typically the hottest time of the year for many locations in the northern hemisphere.
The suns most intense rays actually strike the northern hemisphere during the summer solstice in late June. By August, the suns rays have lowered in intensity. Late July and early August is still the hottest time of year because there is generally a lag of 1-2 month lag in the seasons. That’s because it takes time for the atmosphere to warm in the summer and cool off in the winter.
You may have also noticed that the daylight hours are getting shorter, and that the sun is lower in the sky at high noon. We’ve already started the move toward fall celestially. Our temperatures are soon to start cooling off as less solar radiation is absorbed here in the northern hemisphere.
Get out and enjoy what is left of the Dog Days of Summer!
