Ursa Major

Zeus, ever on the prowl for attractive young women, fell in love with Callisto, and got her pregnant. After Callisto had a son, Arcas, Hera, Zeus's jealous wife, found out about the beautiful Callisto, and decided to make her a lot less beautiful. Hera turned Callisto into a bear, and condemned her to stalk the forest. When her son was grown, he was hunting in the forest, and Callisto saw him. Forgetting she was a bear, Callisto ran toward Arcas to embrace him. Seeing a bear charging him, Arcas drew his bow..., and Zeus stepped in, grabbed Callisto by the tail and flung her into the heavens, where she became Ursa Major. Upon finding out what had happened, Arcas was very distraught, so Zeus turned him into a bear and flung him into the heavens as well, to be forever beside his mother as the constellation Ursa Minor, the little bear.

The Mythology Zeus, ever on the prowl for attractive young women, fell in love with Callisto, and got her pregnant. After Callisto had a son, Arcas, Hera, Zeus's jealous wife, found out about the beautiful Callisto, and decided to make her a lot less beautiful. Hera turned Callisto into a bear, and condemned her to stalk the forest. When her son was grown, he was hunting in the forest, and Callisto saw him. Forgetting she was a bear, Callisto ran toward Arcas to embrace him. Seeing a bear charging him, Arcas drew his bow..., and Zeus stepped in, grabbed Callisto by the tail and flung her into the heavens, where she became Ursa Major. Upon finding out what had happened, Arcas was very distraught, so Zeus turned him into a bear and flung him into the heavens as well, to be forever beside his mother as the constellation Ursa Minor, the little bear. Ursa Major is more commonly known as the Big Dipper. Click on a thumbnail or the links below to see photos of some of Ursa Majors sights.
M81	M82	M81 & M82	M97