Bootes, the Herdsman (Bear Driver)

Bootes (boh-OH-teez) is shaped like a kite with the bright star Arcturus (ark-TOOR-us) located at the point where the kite tail would be attached. Bootes (FCPS Starfinder, No. 7, Southern Sky) does not look like a herdsman, and other than Arcturus, its stars are so dim that it is difficult to see in light-polluted urban areas. In the real sky, the arc of the Big Dipper's handle points toward Arcturus (remember the mnemonic: "Follow the arc to Arcturus."). For more information, read the transcript of Arcturus, the 24 March 2001StarDate, the daily astronomy-related radio program produced by the McDonald Observatory, University of Texas.

Bootes is Greek for "herdsman," but it is often called the "Bear Driver" due to its location behind the tail of the Great Bear, Ursa Major (refer to May CoM). It is one of the oldest constellations (it is referenced in Homer's Odyssey).

Associated Mythology - Bootes, also known as Arcas (son of Zeus and Callisto), the hunter who could have killed his mother Callisto (whom Hera turned into Ursa Major, the Great Bear) if Zeus hadn't intervened to change Arcas into Ursa Minor, the Little Bear. (Confusing, huh? Refer to May CoM for the complete story.)

Bootes has been identified with Atlas, the Titan holding the world on his shoulders. This reputation arises from Bootes' proximity to Polaris, the Pole Star.

Corona Borealis (the Northern Crown)

Corona Borealis (koh-ROH-nah BOH-ree-AL-liss) is a curved semi-circle of stars that forms a "U" shape (with the opening pointing toward the Zenith). Corona means "crown"; Borealis means "northern." Although this constellation is comprised of very dim stars, under a "dark" sky it is easily recognized because of its distinctive shape.

Associated Mythology - Either the crown of the ruler of Athens or the crown of Adriadne, daughter of King Minos of Crete (builder of the labyrinth guarded by the fearsome Minotaur). To the Arabs, the semi-circle of stars was a bowl; to the American Shawnee Indians, it was a semi-circle of dancing celestial sisters.

Libra, the Balance (Scales)

Libra (LIE-brah) is the seventh constellation of the Zodiac for birthdates from 23 September to 22 October. It is fairly difficult to recognize in the real sky and is not shown on the FCPS Starfinder.

Libra is the only constellation of the Zodiac which represents an inanimate object. It was added to the Zodiac by the Romans. This group of stars is called the balance because in ancient times, the Fall Equinox (when days and nights are equal in duration) occurred when the Sun was "in" Libra. The abbreviation for a pound (lb), an English unit of weight, originates from Libra.

Associated Mythology - Libra is associated with many different stories in mythology:

• Mechus, the inventor of weights
• Astraea, the Goddess of Justice
• Julius Caesar, as a symbol of his justice
• The balance of the seasons
• The balance of the light and dark of Fall

Credits: CoM entries excerpted from Your Guide to the Constellations, by Lowell L. Koontz, former Planetarium Teacher at Edison High School, Fairfax County Public Schools.

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