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[[Image:Big_dipper.PNG|thumb|400px|right|map of the Big Dipper]]
[[Image:Big_dipper.PNG|thumb|300px|right|map of the Big Dipper]]
'''The Big Dipper''' is an asterism in the [[constellation]] Ursa Major, commonly known as the Great Bear. The Big Dipper is known as the Plough in [[Britain]]
'''The Big Dipper''', also known as the Plough, is an asterism of the seven brightest stars in the [[constellation]] Ursa Major, commonly known as the Great Bear. This distinct grouping of stars is one of the most well known throughout human history and cultures.
The Big Dipper was also the nickname of [[NBA]] legend Wilt Chamberlain.
==Lore & Names==
===Americas===
In American folklore, term Drinking Gourd was code for the Big Dipper as it would point to [[Polaris]] (and thus north) in the song "follow the Drinking Gourd" during the time of the [[Underground Railroad]] to help [[slavery|slaves]] to freedom. The first publication of the song occurred in 1928.<ref>http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/ltc/special/mlk/gourd2.html</ref>
Many American Indian tribes referred to the asterism as '''Okuari''' and '''Paukunawa''', words for Bear, before any contact with Europeans.<ref name="lore">http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Topics/astronomy/_Texts/secondary/ALLSTA/Ursa_Major*.html</ref> The [[Iroquois]] specifically view the "cup" of the asterism as the bear and the three stars of the "handle" as three hunters in pursuit.<ref name="astro">http://nfo.edu/astro/ursamj.htm</ref>
Today a stylized version of the Big Dipper and the [[Polaris|North Star]] adorns the state flag of [[Alaska]].
===Europe===
In the British Isles the asterism is called the '''Plough''', but also as the '''Starry Plough''' in [[Ireland]], and the '''Butcher's Cleaver''' in northern parts of Isles. '''Charles's Wain''' was another popular name, Charles here referring to [[Charlemagne]], originally written as ''Carleswæn''. Although it is often mistakenly thought as meaning "peasant's cart" from the Medieval word ''carle''.<ref name="lore">http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Topics/astronomy/_Texts/secondary/ALLSTA/Ursa_Major*.html</ref><ref>http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Charles%27s%20Wain</ref> This name is still used in Scandinavia as '''Karlavagnen''', '''Karlsvogna''', or '''Karlsvognen'''. The [[Dutch]] call it '''Steelpannetje''' (saucepan), in southern [[France]] that word '''Casserole''' is used with the same meaning.
The Big Dipper is referenced to in the [[King James Version]] of the [[Bible]].<ref>http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=amos%205:8&version=KJV</ref>
The ancient [[Greek]] words '''ἄρκτος''' and '''Ἅμαξα''' originally referred to the seven stars of the Big Dipper alone when mentioned in the [[Iliad]] and [[Odyssey]] respectively, and later to the entire constellation of [[Ursa Major]].<ref name="lore">http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Topics/astronomy/_Texts/secondary/ALLSTA/Ursa_Major*.html</ref>
===Asia===
In [[Arabia]], the "cup" of the Big Dipper was seen as a ''Coffin'', with the sons of the deceased representing the three stars of the "handle", who are following [[Polaris]], seeking revenge against the star for killing their father.<ref name="astro">http://nfo.edu/astro/ursamj.htm</ref>
Throughout east [[Asia]], the stars of the Big Dipper are termed as ''The Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper'', written as 北斗七星 in [[Chinese]] (''běidǒu qīxīng''), and [[Japanese]] (''hokutoshichisei'', sometimes written with the Hiragana ほくとしちせい), and in [[Korean]] as 북두칠성, (''Bukduchilseong'').<ref>http://dictionary.babylon.com/%E5%8C%97%E6%96%97%E4%B8%83%E6%98%9F</ref>
==The Stars==
The seven stars that make up the Big Dipper is as follows:
*Dubhe - Alpha Ursae Majoris (α UMa)
*Merak - Beta Ursae Majoris (β UMa)
*Phecda - Gamma Ursae Majoris (γ UMa)
*Megrez - Delta Ursae Majoris (δ UMa)
*Alioth - Epsilon Ursae Majoris (ε UMa)
*[[Mizar]] - Zeta Ursae Majoris (ζ UMa)
*Alkaid - Eta Ursae Majoris (η UMa)
All the stars of the Big Dipper except Alpha & Eta Ursae Majoris (Dubhe and Alkaid) are part of the Ursa Major Moving Group. Because of this, the Big Digger will slowly lose its shape. In 50,000 years it will appear to be facing the opposite way.
[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]
==References==
{{reflist}}