Sirius takes the top spot on the podium. Impossible to miss on a clear winter evening, it twinkles with all colors above the southern horizon in the constellation of Canis Major (the Great Dog).

The winter sky has some brightly lit star patterns visible this month, including a triangle featuring Mars at one of its points, making it worthwhile to brave the winter temperatures for stargazing.

Sirius, in the constellation Canis Major, is the brightest star in the sky. It’s twice as massive as the Sun. Alpha Centauri is a triple star system, the third brightest and closest star system ...

The Sirius star is also called the Dog star. The Dog star is a part of the Canis Majoris, or "Big Dog" constellation. Experts say the best sightings during winter, for those in Northern latitudes.