18.08.09 random heat-induced thoughts

Posted under: trivia

The French word for these hottest days of summer, canicule, refers to the word dog. This is because the Dog constellation is visible throughout this period, and the dog’s eye, Sirius, is the sky’s brightest star at this time. Sirius is also the reason for the expression dog days. I haven’t seen it of late, but you can’t miss Jupiter which is very bright and high in the sky these days.

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4 comments on 'random heat-induced thoughts'

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  1. Comment by Alston Adams on 18.08.09 at 9:55 am

    Hey, that’s actually pretty interesting.

  2. Comment by Michel on 18.08.09 at 1:28 pm

    I believe that “dog days” also refers to the incidence of rabies in dogs manifests itself way more during this time. And, in India, during these hot days, only mad dogs (i.e. with rabies) and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.

  3. Comment by Vincent on 18.08.09 at 2:48 pm

    Il faut voir le magnifique film de Ulrich Seidl “Hundstage” ou “Dog Days” ou “Canicule”. La canicule c’est trash et le film le rend bien!

    Extrait:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7EfJTmiSPA
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE5Wu8jo2gw

  4. Comment by Thierry aux États on 21.08.09 at 12:04 am

    Étrange, parce qu’on dit aussi “un temps de chien” quand il pleut, non?

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