Incidentally, one way that you can tell the difference between a star and a planet in the night sky is ... in the case of the brightest one of all, Sirius. Its very name appears to be derived ...

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.