Did you ever hear someone say we are in the Dog Days of Summer? Ever wonder what these hot days of summer have to do with dogs? Actually... nothing!
The 40 days from July 3rd to August 11th are typically referred to as the Dog Days of Summer in the Northern Hemisphere. However, these days are not named for a pet, but for a star! The "Dog Days" are actually named after Sirius, the Dog Star in the constellation Canis Major, which shines most brightly during this time of the year.
The ancient Greeks and Romans believed the star was responsible for the heat and blamed it for periods of drought, sickness and plague. Now we know that this time of the year is simply when we will experience the most sultry days of summer!
MORE FUN FACTS:
Here's a fun experiment to try if you want to find out what the temperature is and don't have a thermometer. The frequency of a cricket's chirps fluctuates with the temperature, so if you count a cricket's chirps for 15 seconds and add 37, you will have the approximate outdoor temperature (in Fahrenheit).
France's Eiffel Tower grows by more than six inches in summer due to the expansion of the iron on hot days.
July is National Ice Cream Month because more ice cream is sold in July than any other time of the year. In fact, the average American eats 5 1/2 gallons of ice cream a year. How much of that do you think is in July?
Watermelon is the summer's favorite vegetable. Yes, vegetable and not a fruit. It is part of the cucumber, pumpkin, and squash family. Fruit or veggie, this juicy favorite is 92 percent water and the average American eats 15 pounds of watermelon a year.
The hottest air temperature ever recorded in Death Valley (California) is 134°F. The highest recorded summer temperature at the South Pole is 7°F.
The 40 days from July 3rd to August 11th are typically referred to as the Dog Days of Summer in the Northern Hemisphere. However, these days are not named for a pet, but for a star! The "Dog Days" are actually named after Sirius, the Dog Star in the constellation Canis Major, which shines most brightly during this time of the year.
The ancient Greeks and Romans believed the star was responsible for the heat and blamed it for periods of drought, sickness and plague. Now we know that this time of the year is simply when we will experience the most sultry days of summer!
MORE FUN FACTS:
Here's a fun experiment to try if you want to find out what the temperature is and don't have a thermometer. The frequency of a cricket's chirps fluctuates with the temperature, so if you count a cricket's chirps for 15 seconds and add 37, you will have the approximate outdoor temperature (in Fahrenheit).
France's Eiffel Tower grows by more than six inches in summer due to the expansion of the iron on hot days.
July is National Ice Cream Month because more ice cream is sold in July than any other time of the year. In fact, the average American eats 5 1/2 gallons of ice cream a year. How much of that do you think is in July?
Watermelon is the summer's favorite vegetable. Yes, vegetable and not a fruit. It is part of the cucumber, pumpkin, and squash family. Fruit or veggie, this juicy favorite is 92 percent water and the average American eats 15 pounds of watermelon a year.
The hottest air temperature ever recorded in Death Valley (California) is 134°F. The highest recorded summer temperature at the South Pole is 7°F.
Seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit is the perfect temperature for pools in the summer time. Any temperature over 90 degrees Fahrenheit is too hot and any temperature under 70 Fahrenheit degrees is too cold.
How will you enjoy your Dog Days?
