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	Constellation Guide Nearby Ursa Major, the Great Bear Leo, the Lion Keyword Search Find StarDate radio programs about: Aquila, the Eagle Auriga, the Charioteer Big Dipper Boøtes, the Herdsman Cancer, the Crab Canis Major, the Greater Dog Capricornus, the Sea-Goat Cassiopeia Cygnus, the Swan Delphinus, the Dolphin Gemini, the Twins Leo, the Lion Libra, the Scales Lyra, the Harp Orion, the Hunter Orion's Belt Pegasus, the Flying Horse Perseus Pisces, the Fish Sagittarius, the Archer Scorpius, the Scorpion Taurus, the Bull Ursa Major, the Great Bear Boötes, the Herdsman The brightest stars of Boötes form a cone shape, with brilliant yellow-orange Arcturus at the base of the cone. Arcturus, the fourth-brightest star in Earth's night sky, is about 20 times larger than the Sun, and it produces about a hundred times as much energy. But Arcturus is nearing the end of its life. In astronomical parlance, Arcturus has moved off the main sequence and entered the "giant" phase of its life. At a distance of about 35 light-years, it's closer to us than any other stellar giant. The name Boötes comes from a Sumerian word that means "Man Who Drove the Great Cart." The "Great Cart" was the Big Dipper. Boötes trails the Big Dipper as it wheels around the North Star.
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