Last week I attempted to explain the tricks for finding Ursa Major, The Big Bear, and Ursa Minor, the Little Bear. What complicates things a bit is that the Little Bear and the famous Little Dipper are one in the same pattern of stars.
Also, the Big Dipper makes up the rear end and tail of the Big Bear and is the brightest part of the beast. Both bears are prominent in the north-northwestern sky.
The story of how the bears got into the sky is my one of my favorite tales. Like all mythology, there are many different versions for each constellation, and I know of at least a dozen stories about Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.
My favorite is from Greek mythology and involves a beautiful young woman named Callisto and her son, Arcus. I have to warn mythology purists out there that I take poetic license with these stories and update and modernize them a bit. Is there really such a thing as the “correct” mythology?
Callisto was a beautiful young woman in her late 20s who tragically, became a widow and single mother when her husband was killed in a war a few years back. Arcus was her wonderful 10-year-old son who really helped out his mom around the house and made life for Callisto a little easier.
Callisto worked really hard at being a single mom, and fortunately she had a really good job but a mentally exhausting one. Arcus even fixed supper for his mommy at least once a week. so Callisto could relax.
One of her favorite things to do was go to a nearby park and feed stale bread to the ducks at a small pond. She especially enjoyed her time with the duckies on Saturday mornings.
On one particularly sunny Saturday morn she was sitting on her favorite park bench when Zeus, the king of the gods of Mount Olympus, was strolling by.
He was quite a hunk and was quite a ladies’ man. Zeus was struck by Callisto’s natural beauty and slid onto the park bench next to her. Callisto was greatly taken aback by Zeus. It’s not everyday you sit next to the king of the gods.
Zeus gave her that million-dollar smile of his and calmed Callisto down. He asked if he could help her feed the ducks. Callisto obliged and soon they were laughing and looking lovingly in each other eyes.
Zeus slid closer and closer to his new catch. His arm went around her shoulder, and he knew how to say all the right things. He then talked her into a cup of coffee at a local bistro and sweet-talked her some more.
They made plans to visit a local amusement park the next Saturday.
All of this would have been just fine, but Zeus was already engaged to marry the goddess Hera. And one thing you never do is tick off Hera. She was furious when she found out about Zeus’ love adventures.
After all, she already had the flowers ordered for her wedding day and had the American Legion hall reserved for the reception. Through her many spies Hera found out about Zeus’ plans to visit the amusement park and decided to give him a huge surprise.
Hera went to the park early that Saturday morning and hid in the bushes next to the entrance to the killer rollercoaster. Zeus and Callisto came along arm in arm. When they got close enough, Hera jumped out of the bushes, held up her magic finger, pointed it at Callisto and turned her into a big bear.
This caused quite a commotion with security. Callisto was chased all around at park but managed to find a hole in the fence and escaped into some nearby woods to live the life of a bear. Hera then dragged Zeus away by his ear.
Tragically this left Arcus without a mother as well as a father. He didn’t know what happened to his mother other than the fact that she just disappeared. Arcus moved in with relatives and grew up to become a professional game hunter.
One day Arcus was out in the woods with his new bow and arrow set. He saw a giant female bear saunter his way. Arcus had no idea that the bear he wanted to shoot with an arrow was his mother. Talk about Greek tragedy.
As luck would have it Zeus was taking a stroll through the woods at that same time and happened upon this scene. He recognized Callisto and Arcus, too, as a grown man.
He tried to convince Arcus that the bear he was about to shoot was actually his mother. Still Arcus took aim. Zeus couldn’t let this happen, so out of desperation, just before the arrow flew, the king of the gods pointed his magic finger at Arcus and turned him into a little bear.
When that happened Arcus recognized his mother and they gave each other bear hugs.
Meanwhile Hera charged to the scene. Zeus figured he’d better diffuse the situation, so he reached down and grabbed both bears by the tail. With all his godly strength, he swung them around by their tales, faster and faster, and threw the bears toward the northern sky.
Mike Lynch is an amateur astronomer and professional broadcast meteorologist for WCCO Radio in Minneapolis and is author of the book, “Washington Starwatch,” available at bookstores and at his Web site www.lynchandthestars.com.
The Everett Astronomical Society welcomes new members at www.everettastro.org/
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