ObservingObserving Ursa MajorUrsa Major(Great Bear)(Great Bear)

What’s ‘different’ with What’s ‘different’ with Hevelius’s Picture?Hevelius’s Picture?

And Why?

• Presentation to MAS Presentation to MAS • Feb 4, 2010Feb 4, 2010

• Ben Huset

First Constellation

I Learned

What I See TodayWhat I See Today

Darn light pollution!

If you see this, let me know.If you see this, let me know.

Constellation Lore• According to Greek mythology one day Zeus saw a beautiful girl, the

nymph Callisto, and fell in love with her. Callisto was the daughter of Lyaon, king of Arcadia She was one of the virgin followers of the virgin goddess Diana, the huntress. So Zeus took the form of Diana to approach Callisto and managed it to make love to her.

• When Diana and all her virgin nymphs took a When Diana and all her virgin nymphs took a bath together she saw Callisto was no longer a bath together she saw Callisto was no longer a virgin, she was obviously pregnant. She send virgin, she was obviously pregnant. She send Callisto away.Callisto away.

• Even worse, when Even worse, when Hera, the wife of Zeus, Hera, the wife of Zeus, heard about Callisto heard about Callisto and her now born son and her now born son Arkas she become Arkas she become terribly jealous. In her terribly jealous. In her anger she turned her anger she turned her into a bear.into a bear.

• Years later Callisto, still a bear, met her son Arkas walking in the woods, He of course didn’t recognize her. In his fear Arkas tried to kill the bear, but Zeus interceded, turned Arkas into a bear too and placed them between the stars and made them two neighboring constellations.

• When Hera saw Callisto glittering with the stars When Hera saw Callisto glittering with the stars she furiously went down to the ocean to meet she furiously went down to the ocean to meet Thethys and Oceanos. She told them her story and Thethys and Oceanos. She told them her story and asked a favor: that the bears never ever be able to asked a favor: that the bears never ever be able to reach the water. And indeed, in the northern reach the water. And indeed, in the northern hemisphere, the constellation of the Great Bear hemisphere, the constellation of the Great Bear never touches the ocean. never touches the ocean.

Precession to the RescuePrecession to the Rescue

The stars of Ursa Major were all circumpolar in Athens of 400 BCE, and The stars of Ursa Major were all circumpolar in Athens of 400 BCE, and all but the stars in the Great Bear's left foot were circumpolar in Ovid's all but the stars in the Great Bear's left foot were circumpolar in Ovid's Rome, in the first century CE. Now, however, due to the precession, Rome, in the first century CE. Now, however, due to the precession, the feet of the Great Bear constellation do sink below the horizon as the feet of the Great Bear constellation do sink below the horizon as seen from Rome and Athens — so Ursa Major gets to cool her feet seen from Rome and Athens — so Ursa Major gets to cool her feet and legs in the sea; however, Ursa Minor (Arcas) does remain and legs in the sea; however, Ursa Minor (Arcas) does remain completely above the horizon.completely above the horizon.

Where is it?Where is it?

Star NamesStar Names

What’s Out There to See?What’s Out There to See?

What’s There to See?What’s There to See?

Charles MessierCharles Messier

M 40>_____

M101M101NGC 5457 – Pinwheel GalaxyNGC 5457 – Pinwheel Galaxy

Distance: 27,000 KLYDistance: 27,000 KLYApparent Magnitude 7.9Apparent Magnitude 7.9

Right Ascension 14:03.2Declination : +54 21”

M 40>

_____

M51M51NGC 5194,5 – Whirlpool GalaxyNGC 5194,5 – Whirlpool Galaxy

Distance: 37,000 KLYDistance: 37,000 KLYApparent Magnitude 8.4Apparent Magnitude 8.4

(Actually in Canes Venatici)Right Ascension 13:29.9Declination : +47 12”

XX

M 40>_____

M40M40WNC 4WNC 4

Distance: 0.51 KLYDistance: 0.51 KLYApparent Magnitude 8.4Apparent Magnitude 8.4

Right Ascension 12:22.4Declination : +58 05”

M 40>

_____

M109M109NGC 3992NGC 3992

Distance: 55,000 KLYDistance: 55,000 KLYApparent Magnitude 9.8Apparent Magnitude 9.8

Right Ascension 11:57.6Declination : +53 23”

XX

XX

M 40>

_____

M97M97NGC 3587 Owl NebulaNGC 3587 Owl Nebula

Distance: 2.6 KLYDistance: 2.6 KLYApparent Magnitude 9.9Apparent Magnitude 9.9

Right Ascension 11:14.8Right Ascension 11:14.8Declination : +55 01”Declination : +55 01”

XX

XX

M 40>

_____

M108M108NGC 3556NGC 3556

Distance: 45,000 KLYDistance: 45,000 KLYApparent Magnitude 10.0Apparent Magnitude 10.0

Right Ascension 11:11.5Right Ascension 11:11.5Declination : +55 40”Declination : +55 40”

=

M81M81NGC 3031 Bode’s GalaxyNGC 3031 Bode’s Galaxy

Distance: 12,000 KLYDistance: 12,000 KLYApparent Magnitude 6.9Apparent Magnitude 6.9

Right Ascension 09:55.6Right Ascension 09:55.6Declination : +69 04”Declination : +69 04”

M82M82NGC 3034 Cigar GalaxyNGC 3034 Cigar Galaxy

Distance: 12,000 KLYDistance: 12,000 KLYApparent Magnitude 8.4Apparent Magnitude 8.4

Right Ascension 09:55.8Right Ascension 09:55.8Declination : +69 41”Declination : +69 41”

Other NGCs

Hubble Deep Field

In Art & CultureIn Art & Culture

Alaska’s State Flag

Starry Night Over the RhoneStarry Night Over the Rhone

Vincent van Gogh

The Stars are Moving

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