Stars

Sirius

Sirius appears as the brightest star in Earth’s night sky.

System

Binary star system

Constellation

Canis Major

Understanding this entry

Apparent brightness depends on distance as well as intrinsic luminosity. A nearby moderately luminous star can look brighter than a much more luminous distant star. Sirius has a white-dwarf companion.

Further reading and reference: Topic reference ↗. Values and educational summaries are not a substitute for specialised advice.