What is the name of the brightest star during sunset in California?

The name of the brightest star during sunset in California is Sirius. Known as the "Dog Star," it is located in the constellation Canis Major and resides beneath the constellation Orion.

The brightness of a star depends on the distance from Earth, as well as its intrinsic brightness. The latter depends on the its size and the nuclear processes inside the star. Sirius is a type A star, which refers to the spectral type, surface temperature and size. Sirius is twice as large as the sun and puts out 26 times as much light. Although it is 33 trillion miles away, it is still easily visible because of its size and luminosity.