images

Constellation of Ursa Minor

by

A.Fujii/David Malin Images/Novapix

Reference

a-cst66-00003

Date

2007-04-04

Ursa Minor (the Little Bear) is intimately linked to Polaris, the North Star which may be found at the end of the trail of stars that look like the Little Dipper. Ursa Minor does not appear have any mythology associated with it, rather it was first mentioned in the 6th century B.C. by Thales of Miletus as a navigational aid for Phoenician sailors. On the other hand, in the mythology of Ursa Major, two bears were flung into the sky by their tails by Zeus, in a fit of jealousy. The throw was so violent that the bear's tails were elongated.