WASHINGTON — The first family has settled on a first pet: a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog that the Obama girls are naming Bo. The selection was one of the White House's most tightly kept secrets.
President Barack Obama's daughters, 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha, picked a black and white pup, a White House official speaking on the condition of anonymity told The Associated Press Saturday night.
Ten and seven. And wouldn't you just know it, dogs have risen in the celestial sphere this weekend as well:
As above, so below, kids!Soaring high in the eastern sky and almost overhead at around midnight are the two stars marking the Hunting Dogs, known as Canes Venatici. Located about a third of the way from the end of the Big Dipper's handle and below it, these dogs were placed in the sky to assist Bootes, the Bear Driver in his daily task of pursuing the Big Bear (Ursa Major) around the pole of the heavens.
Unlike the two faithful canine companions of Orion, the Hunter (Canis Major and Canis Minor), which are separate constellations in of themselves, the two Hunting Dogs of Bootes are both considered a single constellation (hence the plural "Canes" as opposed to the singlular "Canis").
4 comments:
The dog's name is Bo, B (2) and O (15). :)
Interesting reality sync on this end concerning dogs, bears and the big dippers: My dog's name is Bearly. I saw the Big Dipper the other night while taking her out (it's the only time I ever get out of the house, she's really taking me out for a walk). Also saw Orion, Sirius, the usual gang... The dog gets to enjoy the outdoors, I get to look at the stars I hear about so often, it's a win/win deal.
BO- Barack Obama, 2/15.
Tommy, you get star of the day!
I am usually wary of short little news blurbs. But, for some reason it's working for me here.
Also - I have a friend named Hunter, and he has the Orion constellation tattooed on his body, like full size. Seeing him shirtless with shorts is quite a spectacle of pentagrams.
I just got out my H.A. RAY book, THE STARS (my go to reference on astronomy) and counted the number of stars in Canis Major, yup it's 17.
Alas, some star charts have different numbers, but after a quick review of a few, the most is 17, the least is 8.
Once again - Chris, if you need time off - TAKE IT.
Break? I'm having a ball. Take a breather, post a story, get back to work. This is liberating as all hell.
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