Why do we call it "The Big Dipper"???

Question

Thank you for your detailed answer...tom science

Answer 1

Becuase it looks like a ladle (dipper is another name for ladle)

But it's actual name is Ursa Major (there is also Ursa Minor the little dipper)

Answer 2

Well all of you that tried to answer this question is only Half right. How many of you people can find the NORTH STAR which is or was used for navigation? The BIG DIPPER is or was used to locate the NORTH STAR so one can navigate either across the oceans or across the land. The NORTH STAR is not a bright star, so it does not show brightly in the night sky's. It looks just like any other dim star out in the solar system. The NORTH STAR is straight over my home every day of the year, it never moves. So when ever I leave the top of the world and go out side I can locate home by following the NORTH STAR. Over thousands of years it has had many different names. For those that don't know where the NORTH STAR is, locate the bottom of the dipper, the cup end, distance between the bottom of the cup to the top lip. Take that distance and double it and at the end is the NORTH STAR.... I hope this helps... Good Luck..

Answer 3

The Big Dipper (Ursa Major or the Great Bear)

The best known group of stars is the Big Dipper; you have probably heard of it or even seen it. The Big Dipper is a group of seven bright stars, 3 which form a handle and 4 which form a bowl. The Big Dipper is not actually a constellation but is part of the constellation Ursa Major, or Great Bear.

Answer 4

Because there is a little one. Many of those other names take that into consideration (major/ minor). The end of the little dipper is the north star; the two stars of the lip of the big dipper point to it. A dipper is like a ladel - plough, bear, but there's a big and a little.

Answer 5

The "Big Dipper" is a very popular asterism, that is, a group of stars that looks like a recognizable pattern, but is not by itself an actuall constellation (in this case, the BD is part of Ursa Majoris).

Actually, the Big Dipper (which does look like a drinking instrument) has been called a variety of names...to whit:
The (Starry) Plough (plow) in England & Ireland; the Great Wagon (Cart) in Romania & Germany; Casserole (saucepan) in France; the Seven Sages in India; and in Tolkein literature, "the Sickle".

In short, it depends a lot on your cultural influences and imagination as to what to call an asterism!

Answer 6

The most prominent group of stars that form a part of the constellation Ursa Major or vrihat saptarshi is know as Big DIpper
It is a group of many stars of which seven are comparatively brighter and are easily visible.It appears like a big laddle or a question mark.

Answer 7

You are without a name and I do not like it. What would they say, if they were to call ... Why are you crying? You are to ... that Polaris is to marry, as we learn later. She is identified with the Big Dipper ...

Answer 8

because it looks like a dipper

Answer 9

It looks like a big spoon or "dipper".

Answer 10

the in uncomplicated words issues "large" about that "Brotha",are his ego, his mouth, and the major stream medias means to suck as a lot as him, in that order. in the different case, the in uncomplicated words ingredient, i have self assurance, history will record about him, besides being the first African American President, is what an utter failure his regulations grew to grow to be out to be. not person-friendly to swallow we've 1350 days left to live on of this Socialists who might want to somewhat be universal than lead.