The Constellation Series: Ursa Minor
Ursa Minor (The Little Dipper)
The handle of the Little Dipper (so called because it's 7 brightest stars appear to form the shape of a ladle), also called "Smaller the Bear", is discernible by its brightest second-magnitude star, the North Star (Alpha (á) Ursae Minoris, and is situated less than 1 degree from the North Pole. Alternatively, Polarius, the North Star, also carried the name Cynosura(the dog's tail). Cynosura is also portrayed as a nursemaid of the Greek "King God" Zeus. He honored her by naming the star after her. However, in yet another tale, Zeus is saved from his murderous father Cronus by two bears on Mount Ida. Afterward, a thankful Zeus set the helpful bears in the sky, but eventually their tails grew very long. How did a bear's nubby tail grow long, you ask? Because Zeus kept swinging them around in circles from their tails. I guess he was bored.
Facts about the North Star: This star is in the closest position in the direction of Earth's axis, meaning, this is the indication of the Earth's North Pole. Captains and crew have used the North Star to guide their ships for thousands of years. A point to note: As Earth's axis moves within its own processional motion, the celestial poles adjust as well, causing the North star to assume different positions in the constellations. The constellation of Ursa Minor has virtually no deep sky objects.
The Cepheid variable star Polarius, is the yellow-white ultra bright supergiant member of this constellation. It is easily viewed in the night sky. It's mate, the orange giant Beta Ursae Minoris, also known as Kochab, is only slightly dimmer than Polarius. Gamma Ursae Minoris has been referred to as the 'guardians of the pole star'. Three additional stellar systems have been revealed to include planets.
The constellations Camelopardalis and Draco border the constellation to the west and the constellation Cepheus to the east. Ursa Minor's major meteor shower, the Ursids, peak between December 18 and 25.
To the Babylonians around 1000 BC, Ursa Minor was called Margiddaanna, the "Wagon of Heaven", Damkianna. The constellation is also referred to by the ancient author, Homer. Basically, Ursa Minor really got around. Hungarian mythology deemed the constellation called "Little Goncol cart," or, "Göncöl szekér," after a renowned shaman.
Copyright 2015, Brazen Brunhilda, All Rights Reserved
The handle of the Little Dipper (so called because it's 7 brightest stars appear to form the shape of a ladle), also called "Smaller the Bear", is discernible by its brightest second-magnitude star, the North Star (Alpha (á) Ursae Minoris, and is situated less than 1 degree from the North Pole. Alternatively, Polarius, the North Star, also carried the name Cynosura(the dog's tail). Cynosura is also portrayed as a nursemaid of the Greek "King God" Zeus. He honored her by naming the star after her. However, in yet another tale, Zeus is saved from his murderous father Cronus by two bears on Mount Ida. Afterward, a thankful Zeus set the helpful bears in the sky, but eventually their tails grew very long. How did a bear's nubby tail grow long, you ask? Because Zeus kept swinging them around in circles from their tails. I guess he was bored.
Facts about the North Star: This star is in the closest position in the direction of Earth's axis, meaning, this is the indication of the Earth's North Pole. Captains and crew have used the North Star to guide their ships for thousands of years. A point to note: As Earth's axis moves within its own processional motion, the celestial poles adjust as well, causing the North star to assume different positions in the constellations. The constellation of Ursa Minor has virtually no deep sky objects.
The Cepheid variable star Polarius, is the yellow-white ultra bright supergiant member of this constellation. It is easily viewed in the night sky. It's mate, the orange giant Beta Ursae Minoris, also known as Kochab, is only slightly dimmer than Polarius. Gamma Ursae Minoris has been referred to as the 'guardians of the pole star'. Three additional stellar systems have been revealed to include planets.
The constellations Camelopardalis and Draco border the constellation to the west and the constellation Cepheus to the east. Ursa Minor's major meteor shower, the Ursids, peak between December 18 and 25.
To the Babylonians around 1000 BC, Ursa Minor was called Margiddaanna, the "Wagon of Heaven", Damkianna. The constellation is also referred to by the ancient author, Homer. Basically, Ursa Minor really got around. Hungarian mythology deemed the constellation called "Little Goncol cart," or, "Göncöl szekér," after a renowned shaman.
Copyright 2015, Brazen Brunhilda, All Rights Reserved
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