The constellations of Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, and Draco, the Dragon. Ursa Minor is an important constellation because it contains the Pole Star, Polaris (a fairly bright star seen near the upper edge of the image, just right of centre). The constellation was named by the Greek philosopher Thales in the 6th Century BC, in order to help mariners with their navigation. Draco is a very large constellation which has been associated with a dragon for centuries. In Greek mythology it is sometimes identified as the beast which guarded the golden apples in the garden of the Hesperides, and was killed by Hercules when he came to collect the apples as his eleventh labour. See \Observing the Constellations\", page 88."