The official name of the "Dog Star" is Sirius. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky and is located in the constellation Canis Major, which represents the Greater Dog. The term "dog days of summer" refers to the period of hot, sultry weather typically experienced in the Northern Hemisphere during July and August when Sirius rises and sets with the Sun. The name "dog days" originates from the ancient belief that the heat during this time of year was influenced by the combined rising of Sirius and the Sun.