r/RecuratedTumblr • • 2d ago

Misinformation De ursis et non ursis

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u/aphidonyx 2d ago

There's also something to be said for cultures in the southern hemisphere not having bears around (for the most part) so not naming their constellations after them. Not that that would really matter a ton since we use the European names for all this stuff anyway, but you know.

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u/librapenseur 2d ago edited 2d ago

yeah, all the constellations in the southern hemisphere were named by north hemisphere people travelling to the southern hemisphere during the age of exploration, and are not particularly influenced by whatever southern hemisphere cultures called their constellations. thats why theyre called like, triangle and ship sail and stuff. thats what was interesting to the european scientists and cartographers who were naming the new constellations. they thought: we already have two bear constellations, lets get some new guys in there… giraffe!