why can't I create this VIEW?

From: <edwards_at_garland.dnr.state.sc.us>
Date: 1997/01/17
Message-ID: <32DFECBB.2781@garland.dnr.state.sc.us>#1/1

SQL> CREATE VIEW climate.stations as

   select nws_stations.ucan_station_id,station_name,nws_station_id from    ucan_stations a,nws_stations b
   where a.ucan_station_id = b.ucan_station_id;

select nws_stations.ucan_station_id,station_name,nws_station_id from

                    *

ERROR at line 2:
ORA-00904: invalid column name

ORACLE tells me the column 'ucan_station_id' doesn't exist! but a DESCRIBE shows that the column exists!! what wrong with my syntax?
(I own both tables and have permission to create a view)

SQL> desc nws_stations;

 Name                            Null?    Type


 ------------------------------- -------- ----

 UCAN_STATION_ID                 NOT NULL NUMBER(10)
 NWS_STATION_ID                           VARCHAR2(5)

SQL> desc ucan_stations;
 Name                            Null?    Type


 ------------------------------- -------- ----

 UCAN_STATION_ID                 NOT NULL NUMBER(10)
 STATION_SEQUENCE                NOT NULL NUMBER(2)
 STATION_NAME                             VARCHAR2(20)
 STATE_FIPS_ID                            NUMBER(2)
 BEGIN_DATE                               DATE
 END_DATE                                 DATE
 LATITUDE                                 NUMBER(15,10)
 LONGITUDE                                NUMBER(16,10)
 ELEVATION                                NUMBER(6,1)
 TIME_ZONE                                VARCHAR2(3)
 COUNTY                                   VARCHAR2(20)
 RELOCATION_INFO                          VARCHAR2(12)
 HOME_RCC                                 VARCHAR2(5)
 BACKUP_RCC                               VARCHAR2(5)
 STATION_STATUS                           CHAR(1)
 REMARKS                                  VARCHAR2(180)

SQL> Received on Fri Jan 17 1997 - 00:00:00 CST