Today Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky is an unmistakable blue-white in colour although it does twinkle a lot and can appear to change colour. However no one would think of describing it as red.It is thus a source of confusion that many ancient writers describe the star as red orš ruddy. Assuming that colour blindness wasn?t rampant in the distant past this discrepancy is a puzzle that has exercised the minds of modern astronomers and other interested parties, including myself in recent weeks.
I have come to the conclusion that Sirius was never red, based on
(a) what I consider to be unreliable use of the ancient sources,
(b) the evidence from Chinese records that unfailingly refer to the star as white and
(c) the fact that if we accept that Sirius was red roughly 2000 years ago then we have to seriously question modern accepted thinking on the life cycle of star
Claudius Ptolemy probably didn't look much like this depiction from 1400 years after his death (image credit: via wikimedia.org)
One of the most oft quoted sources of this alleged red colour of Sirius is the ancient Greek astronomer Claudius Ptolemy (A.D. 90 to 168). Around 150 AD, in his famous Almagest, he described Sirius as reddish, along with five other stars, Betelgeuse, Antares, Aldebaran, Arcturus, and Pollux, all of which are clearly of orange or reddish hue. So he was 60 years old and could have had cataracts or been colour blind! šOr, as we only have copies of what Ptolemy wrote there is room for error in copying. A sleepy and overworked scribe might easily have made a slip of the quill (pen) which then got carried into all future copies.š Also apparently there is a version of Ptolemy that does not include Sirius in that list of red stars. Maybe a scribe added it in as a joke; an April Fool’s joke that has lasted almost 2000 years!! But the problem is, according to much of the literature on this subject, Ptolemy (and I will return to him later) was not on his own; many other ancient writers also described Sirius as red, some even writing prior to Ptolemy.
The Greek poet Aratos (3rd century BC) is often listed in support of the ancient red hue of Sirius.š In his poem Phaenomena (326-34), Aratos uses the term poikilos when describing Sirius. This word can be translated as ?many coloured?. šWhere is red coming from? In translating the said poem into Latin Cicero (106-43 BC), the famous Roman orator used the words? rutilo cum lumine claret fervidus ille Canis?,š which translate to English as ?with ruddy light fervidly glows that dog?. We must remember that neither Aratos or Cicero were astronomers and true meaning can be lost in translation especially when poetry is the subject matter.
Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) writing in his monumental work Natural History highlights many astronomical facts. He is often quoted as describing Sirius as reddish. He cites three heavenly bodies as ardens or igneus: the rising Sun, Mars, and Sirius. (Nat. Hist. II 18 47.)š A quick look at a translation (etymology) of these words reveals several meanings including burning, shinning, brilliant and fiery. I do not see that we can rely on this source for the actual colour of Sirius. Pliny could have been referring to the undisputed brightness and brilliance of Sirius.
The narural philosopher Columella (4-70 AD) is invoked as support for the ?red? Sirius theory.š Writing about roses he likens their hue to Tyrian purple, the rising Sun, Sirius, and Mars. (De Cultu Hortorum X 286.) He could well be referring to different varities ofš roses. And there are all manner of colour of roses. I am not convinced that Columella really intended to tell us anything about the colour of the Dog Star.
An artist's impression showing how the binary star system of Sirius A and its diminutive white dwarf companion, Sirius B, might appear to interstellar travellers. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, G. Bacon (STScI) )
Returning to Ptolemy, his evidence is the big hurtle to overcome in this debate.He is of course a formidable ally quoted by many in support of the ancient red colour of Sirius.If Ptolemy said it was red then it must have been so.It would be difficult to argue with an intellect as great as Ptolemy?s.I do not argue with Ptolemy but I do take issue with how he is invoked/used to lend credence to the red theory.
In a very interesting article Lynn, W. T. (1887) suggests that Sirius was never red; the whole notion was founded on a mistake. He calls attention to Professior Schjellerup?s detailed translation of Al S?fi?s account of the heavens in which the famous Arab astronomer used Ptolemy?s Almagest , but doesn?t render Sirius ?red?. šThere is reference here also to the idea that Ptolemy only named five stars as being red, the addition of Sirius to the list being based on a transcription error. I am convinced by the argument and information in this article that the origin of ?red? Sirius hypothesis is indeed a red herring. This article is well worth a read; don?t be put off by the French, it is not essential to the basic argument. With Ptolemy discredited as a reliable source for the ?red? colour of Sirius I think we should but this debate to bed.
But let?s not be too hasty, there is further support for a white Sirius in Chinese records. Jiang Xiao-yuan of Shanghai Observatory gives an excellent overview and argument on the Chinese perspective.
The Heavenly Wolf as it was known to the Chinese was actually used as a benchmark for the colour white.It is consistently referred to as being white by ancient Chinese writers.No records claim any redness whatsoever.šJiang Xiao-yuan concludes that Ptolemy was simply wrong (? it may be noted that SIMA Qian predated Ptolemy by some two hundred years and since Sima Qian took Sirius as standard for white star, it is quite impossible for the star to have changed into red in the interim. It is therefore obvious that Ptolemy’s statement that Sirius is red cannot be given credence.) šwhereas I think that it is more likely that there has been a mistake which has been perpetuated. In other words though I agree with his conclusion, I favour the explaination put forward in W.T. Lynn?s article.
Ancient Chinese sources stating unequivocally that Sirius was all the time white šcombined with the toppling of Ptolemy as a proponent of ?red Sirius? by Prof Schjellerup really weakens the ?red? šSirius theory. It is further undermined by the fact that it isš inconsistent with currentš stellar evolutionary theory.
This Hubble Space Telescope image shows Sirius A along with its faint, tiny stellar companion, Sirius B. The cross-shaped diffraction spikes and concentric rings around Sirius A, and the small ring around Sirius B, are artifacts produced within the telescope's imaging system. ( Image credit: NASA, ESA,H. Bond (STScI) and M. Barstow (University of Leicester))
Let?s consider if Sirius maybe was red in colour 2000 odd years ago.šWhat we see as the brightest star in the night sky is actually a binary star comprising Sirius A, a main sequence star and Sirius B, a white dwarf. The red giant phase of a star, when a star does actually appear red, is a prerequisite to becoming a white dwarf.The possibility that Sirius B could be responsible for ?red Sirius? has been rejected by astronomers on the grounds that the timescale of thousands of years is too short and there is no sign of the expected nebulae. A more detailed account of Sirius can be found here . While we always have to keep an open mind I think that the current theory of stellar evolution is safe.
(Aerticle by Mary Bulman, Education Support Officer)
there are some observations of red flares near Sirius even in recent history
Ancient color is very interesting, but more interesting are the NASA “photos” – not just these of Sirius but all recent NASA photos. Start by inverting and zooming, dispel what your mind assumes it will see, and really look at the images. Do the same for all current images everywhere. Familiarize yourselves with ancient symbols as those disseminating images certainly are familiar – it would not surprise me if they have familiars.
Do make sure you are looking at the originals and not compressed web versions!
“(c) the fact that if we accept that Sirius was red roughly 2000 years ago then we have to seriously question modern accepted thinking on the life cycle of star”
Of course that would impossible!!! Then you might become an other Galilea, right?!
Don’t you understand you’re not really objectif, thinking you’re smarter then all these historian writers ?…. Let’s see if you will be still well known after 2000 years!
Hello, I live in west wales uk and have always enjoyed the winter sky’s and a favorite of mine has been Sirius, I have observed sirius for years with a reasonable pair of binoculars, and have introduced the colourful wonder to many friends,
I tell them that the star shines Red White and Blue, we look and true as the star exists, it flashes Red White and Blue, it always has done.
Who Cant See The Red ?
The color changes you observe is due to your high latitude location and Sirius would be low on the horizon in your location. I live in the Phoenix Metro Area which is located at the 33 degree parallel and Sirius does pulsate red, white and blue when it is located low on the horizon shortly after rising. When it gets high enough in the sky away from the horizon, it only twinkles white.
Yes, I am from Canada and often called it the “Pepsi” star because it would flash red and blue when it was low on the horizon.
I have filmed the sirius star flashing red, its lovely, seems like its an atmospheric effect.
Hi, any possibility you could share this with us?
Isn’t this just the same as the well-know controversy about the “wine dark sea” of Homer. It is not that the Greeks really thought the sea to be red – just they didn’t have blue in the vocabulary. (Then you get into lingo-psychological studies about whether inability to express a concept actually modifies you perception !) So maybe Ptolomey and the other greeks knew Sirius to be blue-white and had not the vocabulary to say so !!
I don’t indulge in astronomy, because I have really poor night vision. Plus, I live in a city in southern California, where light pollution is severe.
So imagine my surprise to notice a star the other night, brighter than all the others, twinkling ferociously, and flashing blue and red. Seriously, I thought it was a police helicopter hovering over Mission Bay. Only it was there the next night. And the next night. I concluded it was not a helicopter, and posted to Facebook about it.
There, I was told the red and blue flashing star was Sirius. It may not have ever been red, but it certainly has flashes of it. I seen ’em!
So last night I was going to get my little telescope out and look at it. Wouldn’t you know, it’s been overcast for the past two nights. I really want to get a better look at this thing.
I’m convinced based on much research and consideration, that Sirius the great Egyptian or should I say the human race’s mother Goddess of our Earth and Solar System, is the centre point or orbital central mass for our Sun. Our Sun or Son (Christos Helios/Anointed Sun/Jesus Christ), is the Binary Star to Sirius and when viewed in the past was seen moving away from us and our Sun, but since the end of the Mayan cycle and the Sun’s journey up through the Galactic plain out of the dark ages, towards the Golden age of enlightenment, we now seen Sirius as white or Blue as it is moving towards us as we head towards it. This sheds more light (enlightenment) on all human beings (increased magnetism and consciousness). The orbital cycle will take between 24-26,000 years as does the precession or wobble of our planet Earth. So basically Sirius was moving away from the earth causing a red field and is now moving towards earth creating a blue/white field. Sirius, Isis or Mother Merry is our Sun’s, Sol’s (Christ’s) binary star.
Dear Daniel, thank you for your comment but I must point out that the Sun and Sirius are completely unrelated; they do not make up a binary system.