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Constellations Ursa Major The Great Bear

Ursa Major and especially its main asterism, the Big Dipper is the most prominent constellation in the in the northern celestial hemisphere. Its Latin name means "greater bear" but mythology associated with the constellation dates back way past the Greco-Roman era into prehistory. The constellation contains seven stars of a magnitude of 3.0 or brighter, the brightest being Alioth (ε UMa), Dubhe (α UMa) and Alkaid (η UMa). Ursa Major It is one of the 48 original Ptolemaic Constellations; in Ptolemy's Almagest, the constellation was listed under its Greek name Arktos Megale.

Ursa Major in the Night Sky

Legends about the constellation can be found in many cultures. This section describes the constellation as it is seen in the night sky. For myth and star lore about Ursa Major click here.

Star maps based on map provided by Sea & Sky

The stars of Ursa Major

Number	Desig- nation	Name		Number	Desig- nation	Name
1	M40	Messier 40 / Winnecke 4		14	ψ	Ta Tsun
2	M81	Bode's Galaxy		15	ι	Talitha
3	M82	Cigar Galaxy		16	θ	Al Haud
4	M97	Owl Nebula		17	δ	Megrez
5	M101	Pinwheel Galaxy		18	ο	Muscida
6	M108	Messier 108 / NGC 3556		19	λ	Tania Borealis
7	M109	Messier 109 / NGC 3992		20	ν	Alula Borealis
8	ε	Alioth		21	μ	Tania Australis
9	α	Dubhe		22	κ	Alkaphrah
10	η	Alkaid		23	χ	Taiyangshou
11	ζ1	Mizar		24	υ	Upsilon Ursae Majoris
12	β	Merak		25	ξ	Alula Australis
13	γ	Phad		26	g	Alcor

The Big Dipper The best recognized part of Ursa Major is the asterism of the Big Dipper, which consists of some of the brightest stars in the northern hemisphere. The asterism is recognized in many cultures in different forms, as a plow, a carriage, a ladle or several kind of animals.

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