Alpha Canis Majoris, "Sirius", has 
also been known as "The Dog Star", "The
Nile Star", and "The Scorching One".
Being the brightest star next to the 
sun, Sirius has an impressive set of
myths and legends attached to it. To 
the Egyptians it signalled the time 
for the Nile to rise. Virgil told on
how it brought drought and disease. 
Sirius is an unusual double star in 
that it has a tiny "white dwarf" 
companion (mag. 8.65). The dwarf is 
only twice the size of earth, but has
as much mass as the sun. This makes it
so dense that a cubic inch would weigh
over 2 tons.