Sirius-the brightest star in the nightime sky-...

Sirius-the brightest star in the nightime sky- rises in the southeast at 7 p.m. and is easily visible from 8 p.m. on through the rest of the night. Sirius is so bright largely because it is so close. A a distance of 8.6 light years, or 50 trillion miles, it is the closest star visible from California. When near the horizon, it twinkles and seems to change color, but its true color is pure white. Orion is above, and the moon and the star Procyon are to the left.

Source: John Mosley, Griffith Observatory