天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)狼星(xing)(xing)(xing)(Sirius)也稱(cheng)做(zuo)大(da)犬座α星(xing)(xing)(xing)(α Canis Majoris),是除太陽外全天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)最亮的恒(heng)星(xing)(xing)(xing),但是暗于(yu)金星(xing)(xing)(xing)與木(mu)星(xing)(xing)(xing),絕(jue)大(da)多數時間亮于(yu)火星(xing)(xing)(xing)。天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)狼星(xing)(xing)(xing)一般指天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)狼星(xing)(xing)(xing)A,其主(zhu)系(xi)統由(you)一顆藍白(bai)色的藍矮星(xing)(xing)(xing)和一顆藍色的白(bai)矮星(xing)(xing)(xing)組成,質心(xin)距離地(di)球約為8.6ly。
天(tian)狼(lang)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)是(shi)全天(tian)最(zui)亮的(de)(de)(de)(de)恒星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),目(mu)(mu)視星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)等(deng)為-1.46等(deng),在(zai)(zai)西方星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)座中(zhong),它(ta)(ta)是(shi)大犬座的(de)(de)(de)(de)一顆雙星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)。我國(guo)古人(ren)當然也注意上(shang)了(le)這(zhe)顆亮星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),將這(zhe)顆位于“闕丘”以南(nan)、井宿中(zhong)最(zui)為醒目(mu)(mu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)稱為“狼(lang)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)”,在(zai)(zai)過去,這(zhe)顆星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)指(zhi)代入(ru)侵的(de)(de)(de)(de)異族,它(ta)(ta)的(de)(de)(de)(de)明暗(an)變化預示了(le)邊疆的(de)(de)(de)(de)安(an)危。因此,為了(le)疆土的(de)(de)(de)(de)安(an)寧,古人(ren)在(zai)(zai)“狼(lang)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)”的(de)(de)(de)(de)東南(nan)方設立了(le)一把射天(tian)狼(lang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)彎弓(gong)—“弧矢”,這(zhe)9顆星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)組成(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)弓(gong)箭十分形象,箭在(zai)(zai)弦上(shang),弓(gong)已拉圓,箭頭直指(zhi)西北方向(xiang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)“狼(lang)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)”。蘇(su)軾曾作(zuo)詞(ci)對(dui)此進行了(le)形象的(de)(de)(de)(de)描述(shu):“會挽雕弓(gong)如滿(man)月(yue),西北望,射天(tian)狼(lang)。”不過,這(zhe)個(ge)長弓(gong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)主要(yao)作(zuo)用(yong)是(shi)對(dui)“狼(lang)”進行武力威懾,真(zhen)正抓捕的(de)(de)(de)(de)手(shou)段還是(shi)靠它(ta)(ta)西邊不遠處的(de)(de)(de)(de)“軍市”13星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)圍(wei)成(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)一個(ge)捕狼(lang)陷阱。為了(le)引誘天(tian)狼(lang)前來(lai),獵(lie)人(ren)還專門在(zai)(zai)陷阱中(zhong)放置了(le)“野雞”1星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)作(zuo)為誘餌。