[PW] Question for John Dyson

[Charles Early]

Or for anyone else who cares to try.  We just got a query from someone who 
is translating a brochure for a museum in Illinois:

What is the correct Spanish translation for "Big Dipper" (the 
stars)?  Dictionaries say "Osa Mayor," but that actually refers to the 
complete constellation Ursa Major, not just the seven stars within the 
constellation that make up the Dipper.

I offered the translator a choice of answers:

Go with Osa Mayor.  A lot of people don't know or care about the difference 
between the constellation and the asterism, in either language, and it's 
not uncommon to use the names interchangeably. Or

Use Cucharón or Gran Cucharón, a literal equivalent found on several 
Spanish-language sites.  Or

Hedge your bets by using "Osa Mayor (Gran Cucharón)".

Professor Dyson, do you have anything else to add?  Thank you for any 
suggestions or general wisdom.

Charles Early
Library, Code 272                       (301) 286-0887, Fax (301) 286-8218
Goddard Space Flight Center             Charles.T.Early.1 at gsfc.nasa.gov
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