Abbreviation:
Particulars:
General:
A quite large constellation of the northern hemisphere. The
fourth brightest star in the sky belongs to Boötes: Arcturus,
a red giant of -0.04 mag. The name of this star has the meaning
of the whole constellation: Bear Driver. Sometimes Boötes
is also called Herdsman.
This constellation reaches as high as DECL=+55 degrees; the
southern boundary reaches with DECL=+8 degrees nearly the
celestial equator. From west to east Boötes extends from
RA=13h 40m to RA=15h 50m. Although Boötes is
mythologically connected to Ursa Maior only the north-western
edge is touch with the Great Bear. The other neighbouring
constellation are: Canes Venatici and Coma Berenices
to the west; Virgo to the south, Serpens, Corona
Borealis and Hercules to the east and finally Draco
at the other northern edge.
Stars and objects
The double epsilon Boo (a 9372), with the beautiful
name Izar of Pulcherrima, is a glorious pair, but
difficult to resolve. The K0 giant of 2.7 mag and its A2 main
sequence companion of 5.12 mag can be split in a telescope with
an aperture of at least 75mm and good optics. The contrasting
colours make them to an interesting object to observe. The two
stars orbit each other with a period of 153 years.
Very close to epsilon Boo lies the variable star W Boo,
a M3 giant of 4.81 mag.
A very close double is zeta Boo. The two A2 giants of 4.43
mag and 4.83 mag need telescopes with an aperture of at least
120mm to resolve the components. The two stars revolve each other
with a period of 130 years.
Another nice, white-yellowish pair is kappa Boo: The A8
subgiant of 4.54 mag and the F1 main sequence star of 6.69 mag
should resolve fine in small scopes.
A binocular is sufficient to see the 6.5 mag companion
(spectraltype G1V) of mu Boo, also called Alkalurops
an F0 main sequence star of 4.31 mag. They have an orbiting
period of 224 years. Using a telescope with an aperture of 75mm
or higher and high magnification the companion reveals itself
also as a double.
The pair nu1/nu2 Boo only seems to be a double star. The
two unrelated 5th mag stars (a K5 giant and a A5 main sequence
star) split easily in small scopes.
Pi Boo (a 9338) is a wide, easy to observe visual binary.
The two stars are an A6 main sequence star of 5.81 mag and a
B9pMnHg of 4.94 mag.
Another beautiful pair for small scopes is xi Boo. Its
consists of an yellow and an orange star of 5th and 7th mag.
The variable star 44 Boo (a 9494) is an eclipsing binary
and well worth being paid attention.
Three meteor showers are associated with Boötes:
The January Bootids have a quite short duration; falling
from January 9th to January 18th, they shower activity reach its
maximum on January 18th.
The June Bootids are also called Pons-Winneckids.
This meteor shower is active from June 27th to July 5th. The
maximum occurs shortly after the beginning of the activity, on
28th of June, with only one or two meteors per hour.
From the northern part of Boötes radiates the meteor
shower Quadrantids from 28th of December to 7th of
January. On January 3rd-4th they reach their maximum with about
100 meteors per hour. Detailed information about this strongest
meteor shower can be found in Gary Kronk's database.
Mythological Background:
According to Ovid's (Publius Ovidius Naso; 43 BC to 17 AC) Metamorphoses,
is Callisto's son Arkas the Bear Driver. Callisto has been
changed to a bear (see the story in description of Ursa Maior).
To prevent Arkas from killing his mother (which he did not
recognize), Zeus took both an made them neighbouring
constellations.
Eratosthenes of Cyrene (230 B.C.) tells the story in his Catasterismi
(8) a little bit different: Arkas has been the son of Lykaon, who
sacrificed him and gave him Zeus with the meal in order to test,
if the god is really allknowing. Zeus, of course, knew
immediately the truth and punished the cruel father. After that
he set father and son under the stars.