And lest the supplicating brute might reach Some time afterward, Callisto's son, Arcas, being out hunting, pursued his mother and was about to transfix her with his uplifted spear, when Jupiter in pity transferred them both to the heavens, and placed them among the constellations as Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. Ursa Minor is represented under the figure of a small bear. It contains twenty-four stars, of which only three are of the third, and four of the fourth magnitude. Principal stars.-A cluster of seven stars forms what is termed the "Little Dipper." Three of them are small, and are seen with difficulty. Polaris, at the extremity of the handle, has been known from time immemorial as the North Polar Star. Among the Greeks it was styled Cynosure. Until the mariner's compass came into use, it was the star "Whose faithful beams conduct the wandering ship Polaris does not mark the exact position of the pole, since that is about 1° toward the Pointers. This distance will gradually diminish, until in time it will be only 10: then it will increase again, until in the lapse of ages-12,000 years hence the bril among all nations. It is remarkable that the shepherds of Chaldea in Asia, and the Iroquois Indians of America, gave to it the same name. Principal stars.-A noticeable cluster of seven stars-six of the second and one of the fourth magnitude--forms what is familiarly termed "The Dipper." In England it is styled Charles's Wain, from a fancied resemblance to a wagon drawn by three horses tandem. Mizar () has a minute companion, Alcor, which Humboldt tells us could be rarely seen in Europe. A person with good eyesight may now readily detect it. Megrez (5), at the junction of the handle and the bowl, is to be marked particularly, since it lies almost exactly in the colure passing through the autumnal equinox. Dubhe and Merak are termed "The Pointers," since they always point out the polar star. The bear's right fore paw and hinder paw are each marked by two small stars, as shown in the cut; a similar pair nearly in line with these denote the left hinder paw (see, Fig. 76). The pairs are 15° apart. Mythological history.-Diana had a very beautiful attendant named Callisto. Juno, the queen of heaven, becoming jealous of the maid, transformed her into a bear. "The prostrate wretch lifts up her head in prayer, And lest the supplicating brute might reach Some time afterward, Callisto's son, Arcas, being out hunting, pursued his mother and was about to transfix her with his uplifted spear, when Jupiter in pity transferred them both to the heavens, and placed them among the constellations as Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. Ursa Minor is represented under the figure of a small bear. It contains twenty-four stars, of which only three are of the third, and four of the fourth magnitude. Principal stars.- A cluster of seven stars forms what is termed the "Little Dipper." Three of them are small, and are seen with difficulty. Polaris, at the extremity of the handle, has been known from time immemorial as the North Polar Star. Among the Greeks it was styled Cynosure. Until the mariner's compass came into use, it was the star "Whose faithful beams conduct the wandering ship Polaris does not mark the exact position of the pole, since that is about 11° toward the Pointers. This distance will gradually diminish, until in time it will be only 10: then it will increase again, until in the lapse of ages-12,000 years hence the bril among all nations. It is remarkable that the shepherds of Chaldea in Asia, and the Iroquois Indians of America, gave to it the same name. Principal stars.-A noticeable cluster of seven stars-six of the second and one of the fourth magnitude--forms what is familiarly termed "The Dipper." In England it is styled Charles's Wain, from a fancied resemblance to a wagon drawn by three horses tandem. Mizar () has a minute companion, Alcor, which Humboldt tells us could be rarely seen in Europe. A person with good eyesight may now readily detect it. Megrez (§), at the junction of the handle and the bowl, is to be marked particularly, since it lies almost exactly in the colure passing through the autumnal equinox. Dubhe and Merak are termed "The Pointers," since they always point out the polar star. The bear's right fore paw and hinder paw are each marked by two small stars, as shown in the cut; a similar pair nearly in line with these denote the left hinder paw (see, Fig. 76). The pairs are 15° apart. Mythological history.-Diana had a very beautiful attendant named Callisto. Juno, the queen of heaven, becoming jealous of the maid, transformed her into a bear. "The prostrate wretch lifts up her head in prayer, And lest the supplicating brute might reach Some time afterward, Callisto's son, Arcas, being out hunting, pursued his mother and was about to transfix her with his uplifted spear, when Jupiter in pity transferred them both to the heavens, and placed them among the constellations as Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. Ursa Minor is represented under the figure of a small bear. It contains twenty-four stars, of which only three are of the third, and four of the fourth magnitude. Principal stars.-A cluster of seven stars forms what is termed the "Little Dipper." Three of them are small, and are seen with difficulty. Polaris, at the extremity of the handle, has been known from time immemorial as the North Polar Star. Among the Greeks it was styled Cynosure. Until the mariner's compass came into use, it was the star "Whose faithful beams conduct the wandering ship Polaris does not mark the exact position of the pole, since that is about 11° toward the Pointers. This distance will gradually diminish, until in time it will be only 10: then it will increase again, until in the lapse of ages-12,000 years hence the bril |