X-Nico

16 unusual facts about Big Dipper


11th Operational Weather Squadron

The Big Dipper constellation denotes the squadron's alignment with and support to the 11th Air Force.

Anchorage Alaska Temple

The west side of the Anchorage Alaska Temple features the seven stars of the Big Dipper pointing to the North Star, a symbol found on the Alaskan flag and on the Salt Lake Temple.

Chilsongmun

The gate takes its name (which literally means "seven stars") from the seven brightest stars in the Great Bear constellation (also known as the Big Dipper).

Foreleg of ox

The foreleg of ox (a foreleg with the thigh) hieroglyph of Ancient Egypt is an old hieroglyph; it even represented a nighttime constellation (the Big Dipper, Maskheti).

Guo Jing

Guo is able to understand the basis of Quanzhen's Big Dipper Formation (七星北斗陣) after reading the Nine Yin Manual and observing the formation being deployed in actual combat.

Jin Chan

On its back, it often displays seven diamond spots symbolizing the Big Dipper, which plays an important role in Chinese astrology.

Kuterastan

Kuterastan followed by making the Big Dipper, the wind, lightning, and thunder, each given their characteristic tasks.

Michie Nakatani

In 1995, Nakatani collaborated with Big Dipper's Gary Waleik on a project called The Japanese Beatles.

Portland Japanese Garden

In one, rocks built into the path are arranged as the Big Dipper constellation.

Royal Tombs of the Koryo Dynasty

Slightly damaged wall murials found in the burial chamber depict 158 dogs, while the ceiling is decorated with constellations including the Big Dipper.

Salt Lake Temple

On the west side of the temple the Big Dipper appears, which represents how the constellation was used to help travelers find the North Star and help them on their way, in the same way the temple is viewed as a symbol to help people find their way back to Heaven.

Seven Star Crags

The limestone crags are naturally arranged in the same formation as the seven stars of the Big Dipper constellation.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2

After escaping the subway, they come in contact with a secret organization called JP's led by the 17 years-old Yamato Hotsuin, who reveals to them that Japan, and maybe the entire world, is being ravaged by a group of creatures called the Septentriones, their collective being named after the stars in the Big Dipper constellation.

Starry Plough

Big Dipper, The seven brightest stars of the constellation Ursa Major, aka "The Plough"

The Embarrassment

Several of The Embarrassment's unreleased songs were recorded by Big Dipper, including "Faith Healer," which was later covered by Japanese all-girl group Shonen Knife.

Varda

Varda created the stars before the Valar descended into the world, and later with the dews from the vats of Telperion she made the constellations, most significantly the Valacirca, The Sickle of the Valar (The Big Dipper).


Flag of Alaska

As depicted on the flag, its stars can be used as a guide by the novice to locate Polaris and determine true north, which varies considerably from a magnetic north.

Middle Bass Island

The 805-acre (3.258 km²) island is shaped like the Big Dipper and is one of three Bass Islands located at the center of a group of 23 smaller islands.

Rocket Squad

His partner, Det. Schmoe Tuesday (Porky Pig), and himself are returning from a routine investigation of a 712-malicious mischief ('School children blew one of the rings off of Saturn. When will parents learn to keep uranium out of their children's reach?') in the Big Dipper area, when they receive a call from the police chief.

Seven rays

According to Alice A. Bailey and Benjamin Creme, the seven rays are focused to the Solar Logos, through Sirius, the seven stars of the Big Dipper in the Great Bear, and the seven major stars of the Pleiades form the "Galactic Logos," (the consciousness of the "Divine Being" of the Milky Way Galaxy), and have their ultimate origin within the mind of God.

The Donut Whole

Musicians who have played in the Donut Whole's Bantam Lounge include Bill Goffrier (of The Embarrassment and Big Dipper), Mike Coykendall (of Old Joe Clarks, She & Him, M. Ward Band, Klyde Konnor, etc.), Dustin Arbuckle (of Moreland & Arbuckle), Wayne Gottstine (of Split Lip Rayfield), Jason & the Punknecks, Emilie Henry, Craig "Twister" Steward and many others.

Ursa Major Moving Group

The Ursa Major Moving Group was discovered in 1869 by Richard A. Proctor, who noticed that, except for Dubhe and Alkaid (Eta Ursae Majoris), the stars of the Big Dipper asterism all have proper motions heading towards a common point in Sagittarius.