Ursa Major

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The constellation Ursa Major, the great bear, is visible in the northern hemisphere all year long. It is a large constellation occupying an area of 1,280 square degrees. This makes it the third largest constellation in the night sky. It is one of the best-known constellations and is famous for containing an asterism known as the Big Dipper. This grouping of bright stars is one of the most recognizable shapes in the sky and can easily be found even in light polluted cities. The shape of the bear can clearly be seen under dark skies, with the handle of the dipper making up the bear's tail. During the Civil War, the Big Dipper was used by the Underground Railroad. Slaves escaping from the South were told to follow the "drinking gourd" to a better life. This is because the Big Dipper is circumpolar, meaning it can be seen in the North all night long. The message of the drinking gourd was passed along in the form of song, since most of the slaves were unable to read or write.

Ursa Major is one of the 48 constellations cataloged by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century. Its name means “the great bear” in Latin. It is one of the oldest constellations in the night sky, dating back as far as 13,000 years. It is mentioned in the Bible and in the works of the Greek author Homer. It is associated with several Greek and Roman myths. In Greek mythology, it is often associated with Callisto, a nymph who was turned into a bear by Hera, the jealous wife of Zeus. It has taken different forms in different cultures including an ox, camel, shark, skunk, sickle, bushel, and canoe. In Hindu legend the brightest stars represent the Seven Sages and the constellation is known as Saptarshi. The Chinese believed the seven bright stars represented Tseih Sing, the Government, or Pih Tow, the Northern Measure. In some Native American stories, the three stars in the handle of the dipper represented three warriors chasing a great bear. In South Korea, the constellation is referred to as the Seven Stars of the North.