CONSTELLATIONS
When you look in the nighttime sky it looks like things are always the same and not moving. In fact close observations show that not only do the planets move, but the stars also move. The reason we can not see this movement is because of the great distances involved. If we would travel ahead in time by 20 million years the constellations as we know them would look much different from what we see today.
Stars form patterns in the sky. It is these patterns that the ancient Greeks used to tell stories of mythology and their Gods. There are 88 constellations that make up the sky. The best way to describe a constellation is a connect-the-dot drawing of pictures in the sky. Sometimes patterns are formed which do not form a constellation but are still used by astronomers to find their way around the skies. Patterns like the summer triangle, big dipper and the great square of pegasus are called asterisms and form patterns which are not constellations.
Stars form patterns in the sky. It is these patterns that the ancient Greeks used to tell stories of mythology and their Gods. There are 88 constellations that make up the sky. The best way to describe a constellation is a connect-the-dot drawing of pictures in the sky. Sometimes patterns are formed which do not form a constellation but are still used by astronomers to find their way around the skies. Patterns like the summer triangle, big dipper and the great square of pegasus are called asterisms and form patterns which are not constellations.
Ursa Major
One Greek myth tells that the nymph Callisto, a servant of the hunter Artemis was made to bear a child by Zeus. Artemis banished Callisto for impurity. Artemis gave birth to the child named Arcas. This made Zeus' wife Hera very jealous and in revenge, Hera turned Callisto into a bear which ran awy into the forest. Arcas grew up to become a hunter. One day while he was hunting, the bear Callisto heard Arcas' voice and rushed to greet her son. Arcas, not knowing the bear was his mother was about to kill her when Zeus intervened and sent both mother and son into the sky as the Greater and Lesser Bears. The way Zeus got the bears into the sky explains why their tails are so long, apparently Zeus grabbed them by their tails and swung them around over his head and finally flung them into the sky, and that is why these two bears have long tails!
Mongolia
One day when the Earth was very young, a father sent his seven sons into the forest to learn how to read the winds. They entered the woods and silently walked about while listening to every sound of the wind. When night fell, the sons set up a camp and gazed up at the brilliant stars above.
During the night, the eldest brother was awakened by a strange sound. The wind was singing. He could not understand the words but as he looked to the stars, he saw a bright flickering in the Pleiades. This light seemed to be beckoning to him and it flickered in rhythm with the wind song.
The young man immediately awoke his brothers and told them to listen to the song and help him understand what the wind was saying. The brothers joined hands and began to dance. The wind song became stronger and the brother's dance became more intense.
Suddenly the brothers began to rise toward the flickering star who was the youngest of the seven sisters of the Pleiades. She had fallen in love with the youngest brother Mizar. The brothers remained in the sky as the stars we know as the Big Dipper and if you look very closely, you can see Mizar and his love, for she had left her other sisters and joined him. That is why you only now see six stars in the Pleiades.
Native American - Blackfoot
In a camp there once lived a family of the father, mother, seven brothers and two sisters. The brothers and sisters were all grown up except for one brother and one sister, who were small children. One day, the six older brothers went on a long hunting trip. While they were away, the eldest sister fell in love with a bear. The girl's father was very unhappy and with the help from other men in the tribe, they chased and slew the bear. Then, the girl herself changed into a bear and to avenge her husband's death she attacked her parents and the other tribal members. She killed everyone but her youngest brother and sister who had hidden in their wigwam. The little brother possessed magic and was able to make it so their sister could not enter their home. The bear-woman however vowed to get them.
The two young children, the boy Okinai and the girl, Sinopa were horrified at what their sister had done and they knew they had to be very careful lest she catch them. One day, little Sinopa snuck down to the river to fetch some water when she met up with her six older brothers returning from their hunt. She told them everything that had happened and they assured her they knew of a way for them all to escape. They collected up a large number of prickly pears and told Sinopa to go home and scatter the pears all around the wigwam, leaving only a very narrow path along which she could find her way out. Late that night, Sinopa and Okinai crept out of the tent following the tiny path until they reached the spot where their older brothers waited for them.
But the bear-woman had heard them go and she rushed after them and suddenly became caught amongst the prickly pears. Bear-woman howled with pain and anger but quickly transformed herself into a bear so that she could run right through the prickly pears after her siblings.
Little Okanai saw the bear coming and shot an arrow which immediately put them all as far ahead of their sister as the arrow had flown. But still the bear was gaining on them. Then Okanai waved a feather and at once, thick, tangled bushes sprang up behind them, but the bear's magic cleared a path through them.
Finally, Okanai waved his hand and a huge tree shot up from the dirt beside them. The eight terrified people scrambled quickly up into the branches but they soon found they were not safe yet! The bear climbed the tree herself and quickly dragged four of her victims down when Okanai called on his very strongest magic! One by one, Okanai shot eight arrows into the sky and with each shot, one of the children soared up into the sky. First was little Sinopa, then the six older brothers and finally Okanai himself.
As they reached the sky, they each turned into a sky and there they are today as the group of stars we call the Big Dipper. The four stars which make up the bowl of the dipper are the four that the bear-woman had pulled from the tree. The three stars in the handle are those who were still hanging in the branches and the tiny companion star to Mizar is little Sinopa huddling close to one of her brothers!
Chinese
A Chinese legend tells the story of the four stars which make up the bowl of the Big Dipper. These stars were the home of the "fates," the Queen Marichi and all her attendants and the god of literature. Clearly, it was a crowded home!
The story begins one time when a young lad by the name of K'uei who was a literary student known for his great learning and brilliant wit. Unfortunately, K'uei was also rather ugly, so ugly in fact, that not even the most kindhearted person could help but shudder when their eyes fell upon him. So although K'uei was smarter than any before him, and witty, he had no friends.
At this time, it was customary for the emperor to present a golden rose to the winning candidate at the metropolitan examinations. As fate would have it, K'uei had won this honor. K'uei was very proud when he approached the throne but alas, when the emperor, even though he had been forewarned, laid his eyes upon the ugly K'uei, he dropped the rose and there it lay shattered.
Poor K'uei was in disgrace, and so, brokenhearted and finding life intolerable, he threw himself into the sea. As K'uei passed under the cool, calmness of the waves he was aware that under his feet had appeared a monster. The creature was one of those strange beasts who inhabit the depths of the sea, and he was lifting K'uei back up towards the surface.
The monster rose out of the waves with K'uei safely on his back and continued to mount higher and higher in the air, until at last he had reached the very sky itself. There, enthroned among the stars of the Bear, K'uei now watches over the literary affairs of the world and is the patron saint of all scholars.
Native American - Algonquin
There once was a very large and mean spirited old bear who's chief pleasure was to ravage a village. It seemed everyone was afraid of the bear who did more and more damage each time he attacked a village. Finally, the elders from many villages met to discuss what could be done about the bear. After they had smoked and talked for a long while they decided they would each bring their best and most brave warriors together to hunt the bear.
The three brave warriors all had done many things over time to show how strong and daring they were. When the bear realized just who was after him, he decided to run away because he was really a coward at heart. The bear ran and the hunters chased him.
The hunt went on for many moons and the bear began to tire. No matter what he did, he could not escape the hunters. Finally, in desperation, he ran right up into the sky and the hunters went right after him! Around and around they went, circling the north star.
Once, the lead hunter shot an arrow at the bear and managed to wound him, but the bear's magic was powerful and the wound was not fatal. But every autumn, as the bear and hunters circle low over the horizon, the wound bleeds a few drops of blood onto the Earth, and that is what makes the tree's leaves change colour every fall!
In England, Mizar and Alcor are called the horse and rider.
Mongolia
One day when the Earth was very young, a father sent his seven sons into the forest to learn how to read the winds. They entered the woods and silently walked about while listening to every sound of the wind. When night fell, the sons set up a camp and gazed up at the brilliant stars above.
During the night, the eldest brother was awakened by a strange sound. The wind was singing. He could not understand the words but as he looked to the stars, he saw a bright flickering in the Pleiades. This light seemed to be beckoning to him and it flickered in rhythm with the wind song.
The young man immediately awoke his brothers and told them to listen to the song and help him understand what the wind was saying. The brothers joined hands and began to dance. The wind song became stronger and the brother's dance became more intense.
Suddenly the brothers began to rise toward the flickering star who was the youngest of the seven sisters of the Pleiades. She had fallen in love with the youngest brother Mizar. The brothers remained in the sky as the stars we know as the Big Dipper and if you look very closely, you can see Mizar and his love, for she had left her other sisters and joined him. That is why you only now see six stars in the Pleiades.
Native American - Blackfoot
In a camp there once lived a family of the father, mother, seven brothers and two sisters. The brothers and sisters were all grown up except for one brother and one sister, who were small children. One day, the six older brothers went on a long hunting trip. While they were away, the eldest sister fell in love with a bear. The girl's father was very unhappy and with the help from other men in the tribe, they chased and slew the bear. Then, the girl herself changed into a bear and to avenge her husband's death she attacked her parents and the other tribal members. She killed everyone but her youngest brother and sister who had hidden in their wigwam. The little brother possessed magic and was able to make it so their sister could not enter their home. The bear-woman however vowed to get them.
The two young children, the boy Okinai and the girl, Sinopa were horrified at what their sister had done and they knew they had to be very careful lest she catch them. One day, little Sinopa snuck down to the river to fetch some water when she met up with her six older brothers returning from their hunt. She told them everything that had happened and they assured her they knew of a way for them all to escape. They collected up a large number of prickly pears and told Sinopa to go home and scatter the pears all around the wigwam, leaving only a very narrow path along which she could find her way out. Late that night, Sinopa and Okinai crept out of the tent following the tiny path until they reached the spot where their older brothers waited for them.
But the bear-woman had heard them go and she rushed after them and suddenly became caught amongst the prickly pears. Bear-woman howled with pain and anger but quickly transformed herself into a bear so that she could run right through the prickly pears after her siblings.
Little Okanai saw the bear coming and shot an arrow which immediately put them all as far ahead of their sister as the arrow had flown. But still the bear was gaining on them. Then Okanai waved a feather and at once, thick, tangled bushes sprang up behind them, but the bear's magic cleared a path through them.
Finally, Okanai waved his hand and a huge tree shot up from the dirt beside them. The eight terrified people scrambled quickly up into the branches but they soon found they were not safe yet! The bear climbed the tree herself and quickly dragged four of her victims down when Okanai called on his very strongest magic! One by one, Okanai shot eight arrows into the sky and with each shot, one of the children soared up into the sky. First was little Sinopa, then the six older brothers and finally Okanai himself.
As they reached the sky, they each turned into a sky and there they are today as the group of stars we call the Big Dipper. The four stars which make up the bowl of the dipper are the four that the bear-woman had pulled from the tree. The three stars in the handle are those who were still hanging in the branches and the tiny companion star to Mizar is little Sinopa huddling close to one of her brothers!
Chinese
A Chinese legend tells the story of the four stars which make up the bowl of the Big Dipper. These stars were the home of the "fates," the Queen Marichi and all her attendants and the god of literature. Clearly, it was a crowded home!
The story begins one time when a young lad by the name of K'uei who was a literary student known for his great learning and brilliant wit. Unfortunately, K'uei was also rather ugly, so ugly in fact, that not even the most kindhearted person could help but shudder when their eyes fell upon him. So although K'uei was smarter than any before him, and witty, he had no friends.
At this time, it was customary for the emperor to present a golden rose to the winning candidate at the metropolitan examinations. As fate would have it, K'uei had won this honor. K'uei was very proud when he approached the throne but alas, when the emperor, even though he had been forewarned, laid his eyes upon the ugly K'uei, he dropped the rose and there it lay shattered.
Poor K'uei was in disgrace, and so, brokenhearted and finding life intolerable, he threw himself into the sea. As K'uei passed under the cool, calmness of the waves he was aware that under his feet had appeared a monster. The creature was one of those strange beasts who inhabit the depths of the sea, and he was lifting K'uei back up towards the surface.
The monster rose out of the waves with K'uei safely on his back and continued to mount higher and higher in the air, until at last he had reached the very sky itself. There, enthroned among the stars of the Bear, K'uei now watches over the literary affairs of the world and is the patron saint of all scholars.
Native American - Algonquin
There once was a very large and mean spirited old bear who's chief pleasure was to ravage a village. It seemed everyone was afraid of the bear who did more and more damage each time he attacked a village. Finally, the elders from many villages met to discuss what could be done about the bear. After they had smoked and talked for a long while they decided they would each bring their best and most brave warriors together to hunt the bear.
The three brave warriors all had done many things over time to show how strong and daring they were. When the bear realized just who was after him, he decided to run away because he was really a coward at heart. The bear ran and the hunters chased him.
The hunt went on for many moons and the bear began to tire. No matter what he did, he could not escape the hunters. Finally, in desperation, he ran right up into the sky and the hunters went right after him! Around and around they went, circling the north star.
Once, the lead hunter shot an arrow at the bear and managed to wound him, but the bear's magic was powerful and the wound was not fatal. But every autumn, as the bear and hunters circle low over the horizon, the wound bleeds a few drops of blood onto the Earth, and that is what makes the tree's leaves change colour every fall!
In England, Mizar and Alcor are called the horse and rider.
Ursa Minor
Often known as either the "little dipper" or "little bear" there are many legends connected with this constellation and the pole star, Polaris. Indeed the name Ursa Minor does mean the lesser bear, but not every culture saw it as such. There is a beautiful Native American legend which tells a story of a group of hunters who got lost in the forest. They prayed to the spirits to send them help to find their way home. Suddenly a small girl appeared to the hunters and said she was the spirit of the pole star. She led them home and thereafter the star Polaris was known as the star that does not move. When they died the hunters were transported into the sky where they forever follow the pole star.
Orion's Belt
Orion is one of the oldest and best known constellations. It is also one of the easiest to pick out. Orion is the legendary great hunter of the Greek mythology. It was said he was the most beautiful of men and the most skillfull of hunters. Unfortunately Orion accepted this praise with utter confidence it was true, and then some. He began boasting of his skills, claiming to have total superiouity over all creatures. Quite naturally, this annoyed the gods that be and they decided to punish him for his greatly inflated ego. Firmly believing in capitol punishment, the gods sent Scorpius, the scorpion was to earth to sting Orion's foot, and kill him. Diana, an admirer of Orion (and his ego) implored the gods to place the great hunter in the sky to remember him by. This they agreed to, so long as they also placed the scorpion there to warn against such nasty crimes as ego. In Orion's last dying breatls he begged not to be placed near the scorpion. And so, Orion dominates the winter skies while Scorpius' domain is the summer skies.