h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Star Constellations: Bootes 'the Herdsman' - A30622781
Author: GB - R.I.P. Heidi - U128652

I believe this is #30 of 88.

I hope you have better luck with this than I had in 2003
you might want to read the following
F112309?thread=242754

Hi Shagbark I already knew about that from my initial search but I wanted nothing to do with it, thanks

One question: Boötes is pronounced 'boh-oh-teez', but what about Bootis (without the umlaut)?

Icy

Whatever way you pronounce it, it's going to sound rude

Just looked up the genitive form Bootis: The OED didn't mention it, but another Oxford reference had it written as Boötis (with the umlaut), which seems to suggest how it should be pronounced.

The OED called the constellation 'Boötes - the Wagoner' (rather than Herdsman) - was this an older name for it?

I had quite a few names to choose from, I settled with 'herdsman' because I thought that was the most well-known: http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/bootes.htm
also my own star Atlas gives it as Boötes - the Herdsman

I'll just nip and change Bootis to Boötis

Let me know if you are happy with the title as it stands, Icy

Yes I'm happy, but I think it's worth mentioning the Wagoner as an alternative name for Boötes. Brewers says it was Homer that called him the Wagoner, and Ursa Major was the wain (open farm wagon).

Oh, and my favourite DNA Arcturan reference was when Deep Thought was rubbishing other supercomputers in the universe:

"The Great Hyperbolic Omni-Cognate Neutron Wrangler," said Deep Thought thoroughly rolling the r’s , "could talk all four legs off an Arcturan MegaDonkey-but only I could persuade it to go for a walk afterwards." (Hey, and you could link to my 'road of hyperbolics' entry )

and I thought *I* was the spurious links champ!

How's that now?

Well, I doubt I'll ever get another chance to link to that one - I had to grab it!

Your closing quote says "Deep Thought (Douglas Adams)" when you meant "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)" (of course)

Icy

*slaps self* yes, it's right now

I would like to see mention of the easy way to find the constellation.

Following the 'arc' of the handle of the Big Dipper (going away from the bowl) you will land right on Arcturus. Therefore "Arc to Arcturus" the saying goes - followed by "spike to Spica" because straight 'down' from Arcturus you'll land on Spica in Virgo.

I do hope that made sense - it's too nice a day to think.

Ooh, Jimi, just the fella

I've added that at the beginning, and also, could you tell me what you Americans call Boötes - the Herdsman? Or something else? (I have added the different descriptions in a footnote but I will add more if needed)

I've always heard it called the Herdsman - though I taught my daughters to look for the kite shape and my little one calls it the kite. Just like she calls Cassiopeia the W or the M depending on the time of year.

Excellent

Well done on being such a great Dad

I concur My american textbooks call it the herdsman.

thanks

Anything else?

I'm happy with it.