The Big Dipper
The Big Dipper
Picture a bright blue ball just spinning, spinning free
It's dizzying, the possibilities. Ashes, Ashes all fall down.
It's dizzying, the possibilities. Ashes, Ashes all fall down.
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benhall.1
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Re: The Big Dipper
Well, I've never heard it called "The Big Dipper" before.
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Redwolf
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Re: The Big Dipper
That's what it's called in the U.S. I've heard it called other things in other countries, including "The Great Bear" and "The Plow."benhall.1 wrote:Well, I've never heard it called "The Big Dipper" before.
Redwolf
...agus déanfaidh mé do mholadh ar an gcruit a Dhia, a Dhia liom!
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benhall.1
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- Location: Unimportant island off the great mainland of Europe
Re: The Big Dipper
I've never seen it called "The Plow" either. We call it "The Plough". 
I had to look up "The Great Bear" just now, because I thought that was something different. Which it turns out that it is ... sort of ... The Plough is just part of The Great Bear, which includes loads of other stars as well.
I'm forever learning around here.
I had to look up "The Great Bear" just now, because I thought that was something different. Which it turns out that it is ... sort of ... The Plough is just part of The Great Bear, which includes loads of other stars as well.
I'm forever learning around here.
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Innocent Bystander
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Re: The Big Dipper
It gets worse. The Great Bear is a constellation, but the Big Dipper is only an asterism.
What about the Little Bear, hunh? Poor thing doesn't get that much attention, AND he's encircled by a Dragon! Spare a thought for the Little Bear. Mummy is coming for you, kid! (Mummy is the Great Bear.)
What about the Little Bear, hunh? Poor thing doesn't get that much attention, AND he's encircled by a Dragon! Spare a thought for the Little Bear. Mummy is coming for you, kid! (Mummy is the Great Bear.)
Wizard needs whiskey, badly!
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I.D.10-t
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Re: The Big Dipper
I was going to mention* "Follow the Drinking Gourd" but I never could nail down precisely how authentic its story was.
Here is NASA's take on the tune.
*Guess I did mention it.
Here is NASA's take on the tune.
*Guess I did mention it.
"Be not deceived by the sweet words of proverbial philosophy. Sugar of lead is a poison."
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Innocent Bystander
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Re: The Big Dipper
You did mention it, and I'm glad you did. That's an interesting story.
Wizard needs whiskey, badly!
Re: The Big Dipper
There is an "canned" planetarium program based ""Follow the Drinking Gourd" that has been making the rounds in the country for some years. It is based on a book of the same title by Jeanette Winter who also wrote "The Tale of Pale Male: A True Story" plus a gazillion other great children's books. The "Follow the Drinking Gourd" is a very popular program here as this was the area of the US where African slavery was first introduced. Most of the local planetariums run it at least once a year.