Seven stars form the Big Dipper, the well-known asterism in Ursa Major, which is among the oldest recognized patterns in the sky. It is a prominent pattern of bright stars and is circumpolar for mid-northern to polar latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Interestingly, although the pattern represents a variety of objects to many cultures - a plow, wagon, coffin, skunk, camel, shark, canoe, bushel, sickle, even a hog's jaw - stories about this constellation may date back to the Ice Age when ancient people could cross over the Bering Strait to North America. At that time, cultures in both Siberia and Alaska shared a common heritage. It is even thought possible that the constellation actually got its name 50, 000 years ago when a Paleolithic bear cult existed.

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you must be south of latitude 30 degrees to begin observing Crux, one of the smallest, but most easily recognized constellations in the sky. Crux lies along the Milky Way and is surrounded by Centaurus, the Centaur, on three sides. In the foot of the cross you will find Acrux, the brightest star of this constellation. Acrux is really a double-star system. Despite its small area, Crux contains at least ten open clusters visible with small telescopes. Because it is not visible from most latitudes in the Northern hemisphere, Crux is a modern constellation and has no Greek or Roman myths associated with it. Crux was used by explorers of the southern hemisphere to point south since, unlike the north celestial pole, the south celestial pole is not marked by any bright star.

Orion, the hunter, dominates the northern hemisphere winter sky. His position straddling the projection of the equator onto the sky, allows Orion to be seen from all inhabited parts of the Earth.According to ancient Greek myths a scorpion's sting felled Orion the mighty hunter. Like another hero, Achilles, Orion's heel was his downfall. The scorpion bit him in the heel. As for many mythological heroes, the hunter and scorpion both now occupy a place in the heavens. The mighty hunter is still running in fear of the scorpion's stinger. The scorpion chases but also runs in fear. It is being chased by the archer, Sagittarius, whose arrow is pointed straight at the scorpion's heart.

Boötes is the name of the Plowman (someone who tills the earth). He was a Greek prince but his brother stole his wealth and so Boötes became poor. Boötes wandered the countryside and helped farmers work their fields. In order to make the job easier Boötes invented the plow. He was honored for his important invention by being placed in the sky.This constellation was sometimes called Arctophylax, Bear Driver, because his job was to make sure that the Big Bear (Ursa Major) kept circling around the north pole.

The constellation of Cassiopeia is one of the most famous in the sky. It is very easy to identify the stars that are part of it because they have the shape of a W. Cassiopeia was the queen of Ethiopia. She was so proud of her beauty that she claimed to be more beautiful than the sea nymphs, the Nereids. As a punishment for the offense, the sea god Poseidon sent a monster to destroy Cassiopeia's land. Cassiopeia learned by an oracle that only the sacrifice of her daughter Andromeda could save the kingdom. Andromeda was chained to a sea cliff to be devoured by the monster. Perseus,a famous Greek hero, fell in love with her and rescued her. According to the legend, the sea god Poseidon placed the figure of Cassiopeia among the stars to remind people of her vanity.

Centaurus is one of two constellations said to represent Centaurs, mythical creatures with a human head and torso on top of a horse's body. Centaurus was the name of the first Centaur. The constellation is primarily associated with Chiron (Cheiron), a wise, immortal being who was King of the Centaurs. He was said to be skilled in the healing arts, and to be a scholar and a prophet. From his cave on Mount Pelion, he is said to have raised, tutored, or counselled several persons prominent in Greek mythology, including Jason, Heracles and Asclepius.

In the Northern Hemisphere sky is the constellation Cepheus, king of Ethiopia. His wife was Cassiopeia. Cassiopeia claimed that she and her daughter Andromeda were more beautiful than the sea nymphs, the Nereids. Offended, the Nereids complained to the sea god Poseidon, who sent a monster to destroy Cepheus'land. Cepheus was told that he must sacrifice his daughter in order to save his kingdom. Andromeda was then chained to a sea cliff to be eaten by the sea monster. At that same moment, Perseus saw Andromeda and fell in love with her. Perseus killed the monster and married Andromeda. One of their children, Perses, became the king of Ethiopia when Cepheus died.