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To: BenLurkin
Interesting article, but I'm surprised a site that calls itself Space.com included two questionable things right from the jump:

Ursa Major, which means "Big Bear" in Latin.

In all my years, I have only ever seen and heard it translated as "Great Bear".

The star has a visual magnitude of about 6.9, which is too dim to see with the naked eye. To see the star, you'll need a telescope or high-power binoculars.

No need for "high-powered" binoculars, let alone a telescope. A pair or regular binoculars on a clear night will reveal a magnitude 6.9 star.

3 posted on 01/30/2022 9:22:48 AM PST by simpson96
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To: simpson96

Regarding the author:

Doris is a science journalist and Space.com contributor. She received a B.A. in Sociology and Communications at Fordham University in New York City. Her first work was published in collaboration with London Mining Network, where her love of science writing was born. Her passion for astronomy started as a kid when she helped her sister build a model solar system in the Bronx. She got her first shot at astronomy writing as a Space.com editorial intern and continues to write about all things cosmic for the website. Doris has also written about microscopic plant life for Scientific American’s website and about whale calls for their print magazine. She has also written about ancient humans for Inverse, with stories ranging from how to recreate Pompeii’s cuisine to how to map the Polynesian expansion through genomics. She currently shares her home with two rabbits. Follow her on twitter at @salazar_elin.


6 posted on 01/30/2022 9:29:56 AM PST by TheDon (Resist the usurpers)
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To: simpson96

Actually, “major” translates best as “bigger” or “greater”.


7 posted on 01/30/2022 9:34:24 AM PST by Romulus
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To: simpson96
You do how ever need a telescope to see the Orion Nebula, especially the beauty of the Trapezium.
16 posted on 01/31/2022 12:28:28 AM PST by jmacusa (America.Founded by geniuses. Now governed by idiots. )
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