The constellation of Ursa Major is always above the horizon of Europe, and hence it has been an object of curiosity to its inhabitants from the remotest antiquity. Our readers may easily recognize it by three stars which form a triangle in its tail, while four more form a quadrangle in the body of the imaginary bear. In the triangle, the first star at the tip of the tail is Benetnasch of the second magnitude; the second, Mizar; and the third, Alioth. In the quadrangle, the first star at the root of the tail is named Megrez; the second below it, Phad; the third, in a horizontal direction, Merak; and the fourth, above the latter, Dubhe, of the first magnitude.

URSA MAJOR AND URSA MINOR.

In Ursa Minor the only conspicuous star is Polaris, of which we have recently spoken.

We subjoin a list of the northern constellations, including the names of those who formed them, the number of their visible stars, and the names of the most important and conspicuous.

NORTHERN CONSTELLATIONS.

Constellations.Author.No. of
Stars.		Principal Stars.
Ursa Minor, the Lesser BearAratus.24Polaris, 2.
Ursa Major, the Great BearAratus.87Dubhe, 1; Alioth, 2.
Perseus, and Head of MedusaAratus.59Algenib, 2; Algol, 2.
Auriga, the WaggonerAratus.66Capella, 1.
Bootes, the HerdsmanAratus.54Arcturus, 1.
Draco, the DragonAratus.80Rastaben, 3.
CepheusAratus.35Alderamin, 3.
Canes Venatici, the Greyhounds Chara and AsteriaHevelius.25
Cor Caroli, Heart of Charles IIHalley.3
Triangulum, the TriangleAratus.16
Triangulum Minus, the Lesser TriangleHevelius.10
Musca, the FlyBode.6
LynxHevelius.44
Leo Minor, the Lesser LionHevelius.53
Coma Berenices, Berenice’s HairTycho Brahe.43
Cameleopardalis, the GiraffeHevelius.58
Mons Menelaus, Mount MenelausHevelius.11
Corona Borealis, the Northern CrownAratus.21
Serpens, the SerpentAratus.64
Scutum Sobieski, Sobieski’s ShieldHevelius.8
Hercules, with CerberusAratus.113Ras Algratha, 3.
Serpentarius, or Ophiuchus, the Serpent-BearerAratus.74Ras Aliagus, 2.
Taurus Poniatowski, or the Bull of PoniatowskiPoezobat.7
Lyra, the HarpAratus.22Vega, 1.
Vulpeculus et Anser, the Fox and the GooseHevelius.37
Sagitta, the ArrowAratus.18
Aquila, the Eagle, with AntinousAratus.71Altair, 1.
Delphinus, the DolphinAratus.18
Cygnus, the SwanAratus.81Deneb, 1.
Cassiopeia, the Lady in her ChairAratus.55
Equulus, the Horse’s HeadPtolemy.10
Lacerta, the LizardHevelius.16
Pegasus, the Flying HorseAratus.89Markab, 2.
AndromedaAratus.66Almaac, 2.
Turandus, the ReindeerLemonnier.12

A few remarks in reference to some of these constellations, and the glorious orbs which they help to indicate to mortal eyes, may fitly close this chapter.

We have already alluded to Ursa Major, which forms one of the most conspicuous objects of the northern heavens. It has borne different names, at different times, and among different peoples. It was the Ἄρκτος μεγάλη of the Greeks; the “Septem triones” of the Latins. It is known in some parts as David’s Chariot; the Chinese call it, Tcheou-pey.

Night and day this constellation watches above the northern horizon, revolving, with slow and majestic march, around Polaris, in four and twenty hours. The quadrangle of stars in the body of the Great Bear forms the wheels of the chariot; the triangle in its tail, the chariot-pole. Above the second of the three latter shines the small star Alcor, also named the Horseman. The Arabs call it Saidak, or “the Test,” because they use it to try the range and strength of a person’s vision.