Saturday, April 24, 2010

What is the Greek or Roman name for the constallation The Big Dipper?

first person to answer gets 10 points!!!!!!!!!

What is the Greek or Roman name for the constallation The Big Dipper?
The Big Dipper is actually just a part of the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear) used by the Greeks and Romans.
Reply:Orions belt
Reply:Ersa Major
Reply:The big dipper itself is not a constellation technically, it is an asterism that is part of the Ursa Major (the Great Bear) constellation. The seven brightest stars, located in the Bear's hindquarters and tail, form the well-known Big Dipper asterism. (In Britain, this asterism is known as the Plough.)





The constellation of Ursa Major has been seen by many distinct civilizations as a bear. In one sequence, together with the nearby Ursa Minor, it formed the basis of the myth of Callisto.





In earlier times, Greek mythology did not consider Ursa Major a bear, and instead its 3 bright stars (situated in the tail) were seen as apples growing on a tree (sometimes represented by the fainter stars in the remainder of the constellation). At the same time, the stars of Ursa Minor were associated with the Hesperides.





One of the few star groups mentioned in the Bible (Job 9:9; 38:32 鈥?Orion and the Pleiades being others), Ursa Major was also pictured as a bear by both the Hebrews and most North American peoples. However, as bears do not have long tails, they considered Alioth, Mizar, and Alkaid to be either three cubs following their mother or three hunters.
Reply:Ursa Major,The Great Bear
Reply:Ursa Major includes the Big Dipper and some other stars that looked like a "Great Bear" to the ancients.





The Big Dipper itself was not always considered separately.


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