When it comes to the grouping of constellations, they are often separated into various families. The Ursa Major family consists of ten , Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Lynx, Leo Minor, Coma Berenices, Corona Borealis, Camelopardalis, Draco, Canes Venatici, and Bootes.
Bootes is often referred to as the Bear Watcher since it is positioned in a way that it appears to watch over the constellations of Ursa Minor and Ursa Major. The third brightest star in the night sky (called Arcturus) is connected to this constellation. When it comes to this constellation, Bootes provides a great opportunity for amateur astronomers to view the skies and take pleasure in the large amount of double stars decorating the region.
Coma Berenices, which translates to Berenice’s Hair in Latin, is classified as a traditional asterism that has since gained recognition as a constellation. When looking for this grouping, it is found situated close to Leo and was initially considered the tuft of hair positioned at the end of Leo’s tail. So, who is this constellation named after? Actually around 243 BC, the king at the time became part of a danger-filled mission against the Syrians, who had took the life of his sister. Berenice swore to Aphrodite (the goddess of love) that she would give up her famously long hair (that gave her much pride) if her husband were safely returned to her. He came back and as promised , she cut off her hair and placed it at the temple of Aphrodite.
By the next morning, the hair had disappeared. The king and queen grew furious and in an attempt to save the lives of the temple priests, the court astronomer (Conon) exclaimed that the offering had pleased the goddess so much that she had it placed in the sky. He pointed to a cluster of stars that at that moment was known as the tail of Leo, but has since earned the recognition of Berenice’s Hair.
Corona Borealis (northern crown in Latin) is a small constellation in the north that possesses a collection of main stars that form a semi-circular arc. It is considered one of the 88 modern constellations and was also part of the 48 constellations that Ptolemy (astronomer and astrologer of ancient Roman Egypt) had listed. He referred to this constellation as Corona, but Borealis (which means northern) was added in later years in an effort to separate Corona Australis , the southern crown.
The myth behind Corona Borealis is thought to signify the crown that was given to Ariadne (the daughter of Minos of Crete) by Dionysus. Some people believed that it was part of Bootes (the herdsman). Those belonging to the Cheyenne tribe had called it the “Camp Circle” and was used as the semicircle to which they arranged their camps. Welsh mythology would look upon the Northern Crown as the “Castle of the Silver Circle.”
