Sirius, famously known as the “Dog Star,” is the brightest star in Earth’s night sky and has fascinated humans for millennia.

Sirius B takes roughly 50 years to orbit Sirius A. At their nearest approach, the stars are still some 7 astronomical units (AU) from each other, or seven times the Earth-Sun distance.

Sirius B was discovered back on Jan. 31, 1862, by the American optical expert Alvan Clark using the newly manufactured 18.5-inch lens at the Dearborn Observatory.

dwarf Sirius-B) around the brilliant star Sirius-A. The presence of a second faint star could in particular explain a change of color of Sirius, as suggested by historical texts.

Sirius B takes roughly 50 years to orbit Sirius A. At their nearest approach, the stars are still some 7 astronomical units (AU) from each other, or seven times the Earth-Sun distance.