My Nativity Was Under Ursa Major

While gazing at the midnight summer sky, I am noticing seven stars that seem to be of importance. Maybe I have viewed this before. It’s July and the heat is starting to get unbearable (no pun intended)! And yes, the Dipper is pointing to the south; it is my observation that the Dipper will turn in a clockwise fashion as the seasons change. Another observation: the compass points north to the Polaris Star. Bingo!

These seven bright stars are called The Big Dipper, or Plough, in England, or Ireland. These form part of a constellation which is known as Ursa Major, or The Great Bear. These seven stars form the tail of the bear.

The Bear’s tail can also give us the time of day, even without a watch! The Big Dipper can teach us many things; especially about the seasons.

When the Dipper points to the East, it’s spring; when the Dipper points to the South, it’s summer; when the Dipper points to the West, it’s fall; when the Dipper points to the North, it’s winter.

The Big Dipper in summer stands on the Northwest horizon. In autumn, the Dipper is low in the north horizon. In the winter, it is standing on end, above the northeast horizon. In the spring, the Dipper is high overhead.

If you can find the Big Dipper, you can locate Polaris, or the North Star. The two stars at the end of the Dipper, will point to Polaris, in the northern hemisphere.

Polaris is one of the most important stars in the sky. Positioned in the true north, this star does not move. It shows us where true north is. If you have a compass, point it toward Polaris. Polaris can also determine your latitude. Polaris is also the end star in constellation Ursa Minor, or the Little Dipper.

King Lear: Act I Scene II.
My father compounded with my mother under the Dragon’s Tail, and my
nativity was under Ursa Major, so that it follows I am rough and
lecherous. Fut!   — William Shakespeare