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UMi
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Ursae Minoris
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the Small Bear
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15
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70
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256
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56th
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2
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Polaris
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202
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Vrhbosna/Ursids" class="copylinks">Ursids
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Vrhbosna/Cepheus_(constellation)" class="copylinks">Cepheus
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90
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10
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June
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is a
Constellation in the northern sky, the name of which means ''
Small Bear '' in
Latin . It is one of the 88 modern constellations, and was also one of the 48 listed by
Ptolemy . It is notable as the location of the north
Celestial Pole , although this will change after some centuries due to the
Precession Of The Equinoxes .
Ursa Minor contains an
Asterism colloquially known as the because its seven brightest
Stars seem to form a ladle, or dipper shape. The star at the end of the dipper handle is
Polaris , the '''North Star'''.
Polaris can also be found by following a line through the two stars which form the end of the "bowl" of the
Big Dipper , a nearby
Asterism found in the constellation
Ursa Major .
The two brightest stars are:
- of spectral type F7 and an apparent brightness of 2.02m
- β UMi (Kochab): a giant orange star; spectral type K4; brightness 2.08
This constellation is said to have been introduced in the
6th Century B.C. by the
Greek astronomer
Thales Of Miletus , but was certainly already used as a guide by sailors.
In ancient time, Ursa Minor was named the ''Dragon's wing'', and was considered a part of
Draco . The dragon's wing as an
Asterism is now long forgotten.
Aratus called the constellation Κυνόσουρα (''Kunosoura'') meaning "dog's tail". The name was later adapted to Latin as ''Cynosura''.
The constellation of Ursa Minor, when including less visible stars which are still visible to the naked eye, vaguely resembles a bear (with an unusually long tail). In consequence, together with the nearby
Ursa Major , it formed the basis of the myth of
Callisto . The tail was said to have been lengthened, from that usually expected for a bear, due to the incessant spinning of the bear, by the tail, around the pole.
The variant of the story, in which it is
Boötes that represents Arcas, Ursa Minor was considered to represent a dog. This is the older tradition which sensibly explains both the length of the tail and the obsolete alternate name of ''Cynosura'' (the dog's tail) for Polaris. (It also clarifies the otherwise inexplicable
Etymology of "cynosure.")
In even earlier times, Ursa Minor was considered to be just seven close stars, and mythologically was regarded, as such, as sisters. In early
Greek Mythology , the seven stars in Ursa Minor were considered to be the
Hesperides , daughters of Atlas. Together with other constellations in the
Zodiac sign of
Libra (i.e.
Boötes ,
Ursa Major , and
Draco ) it may have formed the origin of the myth of the apples of the
Hesperides , which forms part of
The Twelve Labours of
Herakles .
To many other cultures Ursa Minor was the Hole in which the earth's axle found its bearing. In
Hindu Mythology , the
Pole Star is
Dhruva (the word means pole today) and there is a story behind him becoming a star.
Source:
The Bright Star Catalogue, 5th Revised Ed.,
The Hipparcos Catalogue, ESA SP-1200
The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Ursa Minor
