how many stars are in the big dipper? and got the best answer

Answer from Daniel Friedman[guru]

The Big Dipper consists of SEVEN stars. .
All the stars of the Bucket have their own Arabic names: Dubhe (α Ursa Major) means "bear"; Merak (β) - "lower back"; Fekda (γ) - "thigh"; Megrets (δ) - "the beginning of the tail"; Aliot (ε) - the meaning is not clear; Mizar (ζ) - "sash" or "loincloth". The last star in the bucket handle is called Benetnash or Alkaid (η); in Arabic, "al-Qaeed our banat" means "the leader of the mourners."
Ursa Major (lat. Ursa Major) is a constellation in the northern hemisphere of the sky. The seven stars of Ursa Major make up a figure resembling a ladle with a handle. The two brightest stars, Aliot and Dubhe, have magnitudes of 1.8 apparent magnitudes. According to the two extreme stars of this figure (α and β), you can find the Polar Star. The best visibility conditions are in March-April. It can be seen throughout Russia.
Ursa Major is the third largest constellation of constellations, seven bright stars of which form the famous Big Bucket; this asterism has been known since antiquity among many peoples under different names: Plow, Elk, Wagon, Seven Wise Men, etc.
Another interpretation of the asterism is reflected in the alternative name of the Hearse and the Weepers. Here, asterism is thought of as a funeral procession: in front of the mourners, led by a leader, behind them are a funeral stretcher. This explains the name of the star η Ursa Major "the leader of the mourners".
It is curious that the 5 inner stars of the Bucket (except for the extreme α and η) really form a single group in space - the moving cluster of Ursa Major, which moves quite quickly across the sky; Dubhe and Benetnash are moving in the opposite direction, so the shape of the Dipper changes significantly in about 100,000 years.
The stars Merak and Dubhe, which form the wall of the Bucket, are called Pointers, since the straight line drawn through them rests on the North Star (in the constellation Ursa Minor). All the stars of the Bucket have a brightness of 2-3 magnitudes.
Next to Mizar, which was the second among the double stars discovered in the telescope (G. Riccioli in 1650), the keen eye sees a star of magnitude 4 Alcor (80 Ursa Major), which in Arabic means “forgotten”, or “insignificant”. It is believed that the ability to distinguish the star Alcor has been a recognized test of vigilance since ancient times. The pair of stars Mizar and Alcor is often interpreted as the Horse and Rider asterism.

Answer from 2 answers[guru]

Hello! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: how many stars are in the big dipper?

Big Dipper

Big Dipper\ Ursa Major is a constellation in the northern hemisphere of the sky. The seven stars of Ursa Major make up a figure resembling a ladle with a handle. The two brightest stars, Aliot and Dubhe, have magnitudes of 1.8 apparent magnitudes. According to the two extreme stars of this figure (α and β), you can find the Polar Star. The best visibility conditions are in March-April. Visible throughout Russia all year round(with the exception of the autumn months in southern Russia, when Ursa Major descends low to the horizon). The number of stars brighter than 6.0m is 125.

First classification - Yerk classification with allowance for luminosity (MCC). An additional factor affecting the shape of the spectrum is the density of the outer layers of the star, which in turn depends on its mass and density, that is, ultimately, on the luminosity. SrII, BaII, FeII, TiII depend especially strongly on the luminosity, which leads to a difference in the spectra of giant stars and dwarfs of the same Harvard spectral types. The dependence of the type of spectrum on luminosity is reflected in the newer Yerkes classification developed at the Yerkes Observatory by W. Morgan, F. Keenan and E. Kelman, also called the ICC after the initials of its authors. In accordance with this classification, the star is assigned the Harvard spectral type and luminosity class:


Second classification - Basic (Harvard) spectral classification, developed at the Harvard Observatory in 1890-1924, is a temperature classification based on the shape and relative intensity of absorption and emission lines in the spectra of stars. Within a class, stars are divided into subclasses from 0 (hottest) to 9 (coldest). The Sun has a spectral type of G2 and an equivalent photosphere temperature of 5780 K.

Stars of the constellation Ursa Major

Aliot\ Epsilon Ursa Major (ε Ursae Majoris) is the brightest star in the constellation. It is located on the 33rd place in brightness among all the stars in the visible part of the sky. Alioth is located at a distance of 80.84 light years from Earth. The star - A0pCr - is a white variable star of the type α² Canis Hounds. It has a strong magnetic field (100 times stronger than the Earth's field) splits different elements of the star's hydrogen fuel, then the angle of the axis of rotation to the axis magnetic field combines various elements sorted by magnetic properties, in one line, visible between Aliot and the Earth. The elements react differently with different frequencies of light, refracting it, which is why Aliot has extremely strange spectral lines that fluctuate with a period of 5.1 days. In the case of Aliot, the axes of rotation and the magnetic field are at an angle of almost 90 degrees to each other. The temperature of the star is 9400K.

Dubhe(α Ursae Majoris) is the second brightest star. Dubhe is a multiple star, the main component is the orange giant K0III, which is in the helium burning stage. Its temperature is 6400K. Star 300 times brighter than the sun and 15 times the diameter. The second F0V and the third F8 star are main sequence stars. The distance between stars A and B is 23 AU, A and C is 8000 AU. Dubhe is located at a distance of about 123.5 sv. years.

Benetnash\ This (η Ursae Majoris) - blue and white star main sequence B3 V. Benetnash is already 10 million years old. The star is at a distance of about 100 sv. years from the Sun. Its temperature is 22,000K. It is 6 times larger than the Sun and 1350 times the luminosity.

Mizar - Alcor (ζ UMa) - a system of stars from 6 components. Two stars Mizar A, 2 stars Mizar B and 2 stars Alcor. The main stars are Alcor and Mizar.

Mizar is an A1V dwarf. It is located at a distance of about 78.07 light years. Its temperature is 9000K. Mizar B has magnitude 4.0 and spectral type A7, the distance between Mizar A and Mizar B is 380 AU. That is, the period of circulation is several thousand years.

Alcor is the magnitude of Alcor 4.02, spectral type A5 V. The distance between Mizar and Alcor is more than a quarter of a light year. It is located at a distance of 81.06 St. years. Its temperature is 8200K.

Merak\ Beta Ursae Majoris (β Ursae Majoris) - A1V dwarf. 3 times the mass of the sun and 2 times the radius of the sun. It is 68 times greater than the luminosity of the Sun. Temperature - 9400K. It is located at a distance of 79.32 light years (24.4 parsecs).

Fekda\ Gamma Ursae Majoris (γ Ursae Majoris) - dwarf A0Ve SB. The mass is 2.7 times greater than the Sun, as well as the radius is 3 times greater. Its temperature is 9800K. She is at a distance of 83.55 St. years (25.5 parsecs) It is surrounded by a shell of gas. The star rotates very fast, its speed is 178 km/s. Its age is estimated at 300 million years.

Megrets\ Delta (δ Ursae Majoris) - dwarf A3 V. Megrets is 63% larger than the mass of the Sun, 1.4 times the radius of the Sun. It shines 14 times more and its temperature is 9480K. She has a 16 amp throttle. e. The star has 2 weak companions.

Taniya North \ Lambda (λ Ursae Majoris) - white subgiant A2 IV. It is removed at a distance of 134.2 sv. years (42 parsecs) from Earth. It is now 410 million years old. The star has 240% of the mass and 230% of the radius of the Sun and radiates 37% more. Its temperature is 9100K.

Taniya South \ Mu Ursae Majoris (μ Ursae Majoris) is a red giant M0 IIIab. Its radius is 75 times larger than the Sun. Its temperature is about 3700K. The star is located at 248.5 St. years. The star is a semi-regular variable, but after additional observations, it is believed that the star has a companion with a rotation period of 230 days.

Talita Northern \ Talitha Borealis (ι Ursae Majoris) - white subgiant A7 IV. It is located at a distance of 47.68 St. years (14.5 parsecs). Iota consists of three components: Iota Ursa Major A, 9th magnitude Iota Ursa Major B (M1 V) and 10th magnitude Iota Ursa Major C (/M1 V). These two stars orbit each other with a period of 39.7 years, and are separated by about 0.7 arcseconds. Iota A is 1.7 times larger in mass and 1.5 times larger in radius than the Sun. Its temperature is 7900K. The luminosity is 9 times greater than the Sun.

Talita South \ Kappa (κ Ursae Majoris) is a double star. Both stars are white dwarfs A0IV-V + A0V. The orbital period of revolution is from 36 to 74 years. These stars are 422.5 light years away from us. Their temperature is about 9400K. Both stars will become subgiants. Each star rotates over 201 km/s. (about 3 days). Brightness 290/250 solar.

Alula North\ Nu (ν Ursae Majoris) - is a double star. The main star is the orange giant K3 III. Its luminosity is 1355 times greater than the Sun, and its radius is 76 times greater. The temperature is around 4300K. And the mass is 4 times that of the Sun. The stars are distant from us at a distance of 420.9 sv. years. The second star is a G1V yellow dwarf whose luminosity is 30% greater than that of the Sun.

Alula South\ Xi (ξ Ursae Majoris) is a star system. That this is a double system was understood by William Herschel on May 2, 1780. It was the first visual binary star, whose orbit was calculated by Felix Savary in 1828. The two stars are G0 Ve/G0 Ve yellow dwarfs of the main sequence. They are classified as Variable RS Hounds. The temperature of the stars is ~5900 K. Their mass, radius and luminosity are only slightly higher than the Sun, and their metallicities are also similar. Each star has a companion. The star Alula Aa has an M3 class companion. Alula Ba has a companion - a brown dwarf or a red dwarf, and even an orange dwarf. In addition, astrometric data indicate the existence of a third companion in this subsystem. The stars are 33.94 light years away from us.

Alkafzah\ Chi (χ Ursae Majoris) - orange giant K0.5IIIb. It is located at a distance of about 195.8 sv. years from Earth. The star is 20 times the radius of the Sun. Its temperature is 4700K. It shines 172 times stronger than the Sun. Its rotation speed is 1.15 km/s. (1000 days). The star is at least 1000 million years old.

Tien Tsan\Psi (ψ Ursae Majoris) - orange giant K1 III. The star is at a distance of 146.7 sv. years from Earth. It is 20 times the radius of the Sun. And radiates 148 times. Temperature - 4500K. Rotation around its axis - 1.1 km / s (1 revolution in 2.6 years). Tien Tsan began its life 300 million years as a blue-white B7 main sequence star and will end its days as a white dwarf with a mass of about 0.7 solar masses.

23 Ursae Majoris- yellow subgiant F0IV. It is located at a distance of 75.41 St. years. Her tempera is 7300K. It shines 14 times more than the Sun and has a radius 2.5 times greater. Rotation speed - 147 km / s (1 revolution - 20.4 hours). The star is a Delta Shield type variable. It has an orange dwarf companion K7v. Mass 0.63 solar.

Muscida\ Omicron (ο Ursae Majoris) is a G4 II–III yellow giant. It is located at a distance of about 183.4 St. years. Its mass is about 2.42 solar masses. The radius is 14 times that of the Sun. Radiates in 138 times more. Its temperature is 5282K. The star has a companion - a red dwarf M1v, which is an X-ray source.

Upsilon(υ Ursae Majoris) is a double star. Main component yellow subgiant F2 IV. This variable star is of the Delta Scuti type. Rotation speed 124 km / s. (1.4 days). Its temperature is 7300 K. The luminosity is 30 times greater than the Sun. The star has a companion - the red dwarf M0V. With a mass of 0.5 solar. The stars are at a distance of 114.9 sv. years from Earth.

φ Ursa Major - subgiant A3IV. It is located at a distance of about 436.1 St. years. Its temperature is 8900K. 2.5 times the mass of the Sun.

Theta(θ Ursae Majoris) is a binary system of stars. The main star is a yellow subgiant F6 IV. They are located at a distance of 43.93 St. years from Earth. It is 141% larger than the Sun and 250% larger in radius. She is already 2.2 billion years old. Its temperature is 6500K. The McDonald Observatory suggests that the star has planets with masses between 0.24 and 4.6 Jupiter masses and an orbit between 0.05 and 5.2 AU.

Deep space objects in the constellation Ursa Major


Nebulae

M97- the owl nebula is a planetary nebula. First opener - Pierre Mechain 16.02. 1781 The nebula is located at a distance of 2598 sv. years from us. Photographic magnitude (B) - 12.0. Visible dimensions 3.4" × 3.3". A nebula is a cylindrical ring of light. The Owl Nebula formed 6,000 years ago. The central star now has a mass of 0.7 solar masses and a magnitude of 16. To see the nebula well, you need a telescope from 150 - 200 mm. Size in diameter - 2.2 St. of the year.

galaxies

Galaxy Cigar \ M82 - Irregular galaxy with powerful star formation. Type I0 edge-on. The increased star formation is possibly caused by the gravitational interaction of the Bode Galaxy, this interaction began about 100 million years ago. Due to gravitational interaction, it is believed that it has become incorrect. Infrared study revealed distorted spiral arms. Star formation has been going on for 50 million years. The Hubble telescope has discovered 197 star clusters in the galaxy. The frequency of supernova explosions is once every 10 years. At the center is a black hole 30 million times the mass of the Sun. And also discovered the existence of small black holes with a mass of 500 times the mass of the Sun. Most of the stars in the galaxy were born 500 million years ago. The galaxy is at a distance of 12.09 million light years. Redshift - 203 ± 4 km/s. Visible dimensions - 11`.2 × 4`.3. Size across - 39420 St. years.

Bode Galaxy- M81 - spiral galaxy Sb. The first discoverer was Johann Bode in 1774. Much infrared radiation comes from cosmic dust in the spiral arms of the galaxy due to star formation. In 1993, a type IIb supernova erupted in the galaxy. The galaxy is at a distance of 11.7 million km. years. (3.6 parsecs). The galaxy contains about 250 billion stars, fewer than the Milky Way. The Bode Galaxy is in gravitational interaction with the spiral galaxy NGC 3077. This influence tears off a layer of hydrogen from 3 galaxies (M81, M82 and NGC 3077) and leads to star formation in the centers of galaxies. The galaxies M81, M82 are visible through a telescope from 75 mm. To distinguish details, you need a telescope with an aperture of 20 cm or more. The galaxy is at a distance of 12 mil. years. Visible dimensions 24.9" × 11.5". Photographic magnitude mB 7.8. Redshift −0.000140 ± 0.000040. The size in diameter is 86,980 St. years.

Galaxy Pinwheel - M 101 - spiral galaxy SA(sr)c. The first discoverer - Pierre Mechain 03/27/1781. The pinwheel galaxy is very similar to the Milky Way, with pronounced spiral arms and a small, compact bulge. But the Pinwheel is larger than the Milky Way in size. Its diameter is 206,000 St. years. Previously, the Pinwheel galaxy experienced collisions with other galaxies, which follows from some asymmetry. On August 24, 2011, a type Ia supernova erupted in this galaxy. This was the fourth supernova seen from Earth. There were also in 1909, 1951. and 1970 The galaxy is 24.57 million light years away from us. years. (8 megaparsecs). Visible dimensions 27" × 26". Photographic magnitude mB 8.2. Redshift - 0.0013±0.0002. The galaxy can be observed in a telescope with a diameter of 50 mm or more. Under good conditions and a telescope with a diameter of 150 mm or more, you can make out details: stars and spiral arms.

M 108- barred spiral galaxy (Sc). It was discovered by Pierre Mechain on February 16, 1781. The galaxy is visible almost edge-on. This galaxy has a mass of about 125 billion solar masses. And it includes 290 ± 80 globular clusters. With the help of the Chandra X-ray observatory, 83 X-ray sources were found. In the center is a supermassive black hole equal to 24 million solar masses. Photographic magnitude mB 10.6. Redshift +0.002328 ± 0.000003. The galaxy is at a distance of 44.97 million light years. years from us. The size in diameter is 112,000 St. years.

m 109- barred spiral galaxy SB(rs)bc. It is located at a distance of 54.96 million light years from Earth and is removed at 1142 km / s. The first discoverer - Pierre Mechain 04/12/1781. The galaxy has 3 satellites: galaxies UGC 6923, UGC 6940 and UGC 6969, possibly more. In March 1956 A supernova Ia erupted in the galaxy M 109. Photographic magnitude mB 10.6. Redshift +0.003496 ± 0.000010. The size in diameter is 120,000 St. years.

NGC 2768- elliptical galaxy (E6). First discoverer William Herschel 19.04. 1790 Redshift +0.004590 ± 0.000250. Speed ​​- (+1373 ± 5) km / s. Photographic magnitude mB 10.9. Located at a distance of 62.89 million sv. years from Earth. The size in diameter is 117,200 St. years.

NGC 2841- spiral galaxy (Sb). The first discoverer - William Herschel 03/09/1788. It is located at a distance of 51.5 million sv. years from Earth. Redshift +0.002121 ± 0.000003. Photographic magnitude mB 10.1. Visible dimensions 8.1" × 3.5". Size across - 121,400 St. years.

NGC 2976- spiral galaxy Sc/P. The first discoverer - William Herschel 11/8/1801. The galaxy contains many dark bands and stellar clumps closer to the disk. It does not have distinct spiral arms due to gravitational interactions with neighboring galaxies M81 and M82. Photographic magnitude mB 10.8. Redshift +0.000040 ± 0.000070. It is located at a distance of 11.99 million sv. years from Earth. Size across - 20 600 St. years.

NGC 3077- spiral galaxy (Sd). The first discoverer - William Herschel 11/08/1801. The galaxy has an active nucleus. The galaxy is at a distance of 12.96 million light years. years. Photographic magnitude mB 10.6 Apparent dimensions 5.2" × 4.7" Redshift +0.000040 ± 0.000013. The size in diameter is 19,600 St. years.

NGC 3184- barred spiral galaxy (SBc). The first discoverer was William Herschel on March 18, 1787. The galaxy is located at a distance of about 36.84 million sv. years from Earth. NGC 3184 has a high abundance of heavy elements. In 1999, a type II supernova erupted in this galaxy; in addition, NGC 3184 has a high content heavy metals. Redshift 0.001975. The size in diameter is 79,400 St. years.

NGC 3198- barred spiral galaxy (SBc). The first discoverer was William Herschel on 01/15/1788. Visible dimensions 8.5" × 3.3" Photographic magnitude mB 10.9. It is located at a distance of 47.93 million sv. years. The size in diameter is 118,600 St. years.

NGC 3359- barred spiral galaxy (SBc). The first discoverer was William Herschel on November 28, 1793. Apparent dimensions 7.2" × 4.4" Photographic magnitude mB 11.0 Redshift +0.003376 ± 0.000007. It is located at a distance of 42.38 million sv. years. from the earth. The size in diameter is 88,800 St. years.

NGC 3675- spiral galaxy (Sb). The first discoverer - William Herschel 01/14/1788. Visible dimensions 5.9" × 3.1" Photographic magnitude mB 10.8. Redshift +0.002542 ± 0.000033. It is located at a distance of 67.97 million sv. years from Earth. The size in diameter is 116,800 St. years.

NGC 3726- barred spiral galaxy (SBc). The first discoverer was William Herschel on 02/05/1788. Apparent dimensions 6.0" × 4.1" Photographic magnitude mB 10.9 Redshift +0.002872 ± 0.000027

NGC 3938- spiral galaxy (Sc). Three supernova explosions were registered in the galaxy: SN 1961U, SN 1964L and SN 2005ay. The number of objects registered in NGC 3938 is 164 objects. The galaxy is located at a distance of about 43 million sv. years from Earth. Apparent dimensions 5.4" × 4.9" Photographic magnitude mB 10.8

NGC 3953- spiral galaxy SBbc. The first discoverer was William Herschel on April 12, 1789. Two supernova explosions were registered in the galaxy: SN 2001dp and SN 2006bp. Apparent dimensions 6.9" × 3.6" Photographic magnitude mB 10.6 Redshift +0.003509 ± 0.000027

NGC 4051- spiral galaxy SBbc. The first discoverer was William Herschel on 02/06/1788. At the center of the spiral galaxy NGC 4051 is a supermassive black hole that ejects 2 to 5 percent of the material accreting into it. Visible dimensions 5.2" × 3.9" Photographic magnitude mB 10.8. Redshift +0.002336

NGC 4605- spiral galaxy SBc/P. The first discoverer was William Herschel on April 19, 1790. Apparent dimensions 5.9" × 2.4" Photographic magnitude mB 10.8 Redshift +0.000484 ± 0.000020. It is located at a distance of 17.59 million sv. years from Earth. The size in diameter is 30,200 St. years.

IC 2574(Coddington Nebula) is a dwarf irregular galaxy. She has 2 sleeves irregular shape. The galaxy is 2 times smaller than the Milky Way. First discovered by Edward Foster Coddington in 1898. 90% in the galaxy - dark matter. The galaxy is at a distance of 11.76 million sv. years. Visible dimensions 12.3" × 5.9". The size in diameter is 44,040 St. years

Ursa Major (lat. Ursa Major) is a constellation in the northern hemisphere of the sky. The seven stars of Ursa Major make up a figure resembling a ladle with a handle. The two brightest stars, Aliot and Dubhe, have magnitudes of 1.8 apparent magnitudes. According to the two extreme stars of this figure (α and β), you can find the Polar Star. The best visibility conditions are in March-April. It can be seen throughout Russia all year round (with the exception of the autumn months in southern Russia, when the Big Dipper descends low to the horizon).

Short description

Big Dipper
Lat. Name Ursa Major
(genus n. Ursae Majoris)
Reduction UMa
Symbol Big Dipper
right ascension from 7 h 58 m to 14 h 25 m
declination from +29° to +73° 30’
Square 1280 sq. degrees
(3rd place)
brightest stars
(value< 3 m)
  • Aliot (ε UMa) – 1.76 m
  • Dubhe (α UMa) – 1.81 m
  • Benetnash (η UMa) - 1.86 m
  • Mizar (ζ UMa) - 2.23 m
  • Merak (β UMa) – 2.34 m
  • Fekda (γ UMa) – 2.41 m
meteor showers
  • Ursids
  • Leonids-Ursids
  • April Ursids
neighboring constellations
  • The Dragon
  • Giraffe
  • Small Lion
  • Veronica's hair
  • Hounds Dogs
  • Bootes
The constellation is visible at latitudes from +90° to -16°.
Best time for observation - March.

Detailed description

The constellation Ursa Major is located in the northern hemisphere starry sky . People have known it for thousands of years. He was known by the astronomers of Egypt, Babylon, China and Ancient Greece. It was included by Claudius Ptolemy in his monograph Almagest as early as the 2nd century. And this work combined all the knowledge of astronomy at that time.

The Big Dipper is formed by the following seven stars:

  1. Dubhe (Alpha Ursa Major), the name comes from the Arabic expression - "the back of a big bear."
  2. Merak (β) - from Arabic "loin" or "groin"..
  3. Fekda (γ) - "thigh".
  4. Megrets (δ) - "base of the tail". It is the dimmest star among the stars of the Big Dipper.
  5. Aliot (ε) - "fat tail". The brightest star in this constellation.
  6. Mizar (ζ) - from Arabic - "belt". Near Mizar there is another star - "Alcor". It is noteworthy that the ability to distinguish between these two stars is a consequence of good vision (with myopia no more than 1 diopter).
  7. Benetnash (η) or otherwise - Alkaid. The third brightest star in Ursa Major. "Al-Qaeed banat ours" is translated from Arabic as "the leader of the mourners."

As you can see, this formation includes 7 stars. If you connect them with a straight line, you get a figure that resembles a bucket with a handle. Each star has its own name. At the top of the bucket, opposite the handle, there is a star called Dubhe. It is the second brightest among its cosmic counterparts. This multiple star. That is, several stars from Earth are seen as one due to close range to each other.

In this case, we are dealing with 3 stars. The largest of them is a red giant. That is, the core has already lost all its reserves of hydrogen, and a thermonuclear reaction is taking place on the surface of the star. It dies, and over time should turn into a white dwarf or become black hole. The other two stars are stars main sequence, that is, the same as our Sun.

On the same straight line with Dubhe, at the base of the bucket, there is a star Merak. This is a very bright light. It is 69 times brighter than our Sun, but due to the huge outer space doesn't make the right impression. If the straight line between Merak and Dubhe is extended towards the constellation Ursa Minor, then you can rest against the North Star. It is located at a distance that is 5 times the distance between the indicated luminaries.

The other lowest point of the bucket is called Fekda. This is a Main Sequence star. The upper point of the bucket opposite it is called Megrets. She is the dullest in a friendly company. This star is almost 1.5 times larger than our star and 14 times brighter.

There is a star at the beginning of the handle Aliot. It is the brightest in the constellation Ursa Major. Among all the visible stars in the sky, it ranks 33rd in brightness. From the end of the handle, it is the third in a row, and the second is a star. Mizar. Next to it is another luminary, which is called Alcor. Anyone with good eyesight can see it. They say that in ancient times, Alcor was used to test the visual acuity of young boys who aspired to become sailors. If a young man could see this star next to Mizar, then he was enlisted as a sailor.

In reality, not 2 stars, but as many as 6 shine in the space distance. These are the double stars Mizar A and Mizar B, as well as the double star Alcor. But from Earth naked eye only a large bright dot and a small one nearby are visible. These are the surprises sometimes presented by space.

And finally, the most extreme star. It is called Benetnash or Alkaid. All these names are taken from the Arabic language. In this case literal translation means "leader of the mourners." That is, the al-qaid is the leader, and our banat is the mourners. This luminary is the third brightest after Aliot and Dubhe. It ranks 35th among the brightest stars in the sky.

The brightest stars in Ursa Major

Star α (2000) δ (2000) V Sp. Class Distance Luminosity Notes
Aliot 12h 54min 01.7s +55° 57′ 35″ 1,76 A0Vp 81 108
Dubhe 11 03 43,6 +61 45 03 1,79 K0IIIa 124 235 Triple. ΑΒ=0.7″ AC=378″
Benetnash 13 47 32,3 +49 18 48 1,86 B3V 101 146
Mizar 13 23 55,5 +54 55 31 2,27 A1Vp 86 71 6 star system including Alcor Α and Β
Merak 11 01 50,4 +56 22 56 2,37 A1V 78 55
Fekda 11 53 49,8 +53 41 41 2,44 A0Ve 84 59
ψ UMa 11 09 39,7 +44 29 54 3,01 K1III 147 108
μ UMa 10 22 19,7 +41 29 58 3,05 M0III 249 296 cn. double?
ιUMa 08 59 12,4 +48 02 30 3,14 A7IV 48 10 cn. double and opt. double
θUMa 09 32 51,3 +51 40 38 3,18 F6IV 44 8

Other objects of Ursa Major

In addition to the Big Dipper, in the constellation Ursa Major, you can also observe an asterism called "Three Gazelle Jumps", which looks like three pairs of stars.

These are the following couples:

  1. Alula North South (ν and ξ),
  2. Taniya North and South (λ and μ),
  3. Talita North and South (ι and κ).

Near Alupa Severnaya is a red dwarf called Lalande 21185, which is elusive to observe with the naked eye. However, it is the sixth closest star system to the Sun. Closer than the stars Sirius A and B.

Observational astronomers are well aware that this constellation contains the galaxy M101 (called the Pinwheel), as well as the galaxies M81 and M82. The last two form the core of what is probably the nearest group of galaxies, located at a distance of about 7 million light years. Unlike these distant objects, the astronomical body M 97 ("Owl") is located within the Milky Way, hundreds of times closer. The Owl is one of the largest planetary nebulae.

In the middle, between the first and second "gazelle jump", with the help of optics, you can see a small yellow dwarf, similar to our Sun at number 47. From 2000 to 2010, scientists discovered three exoplanets, gas giants, revolving around it. Also, this star system is one of the most similar to the solar system and ranks 72nd in the list of candidates for the search for planets similar to Earth, conducted as part of the planned NASA Terrestrial Planet Finder mission. So for an astronomy lover, the constellation is of great interest.

In 2013 and 2016, two of the most distant galaxies from us were discovered in the constellation, respectively z8 GND 5296 and GN-z11. The light of these galaxies, recorded by scientists, was 13.02 (z8 GND 5296) and 13.4 (GN-z11) billion years.

This is how you can characterize the constellation Ursa Major, known since ancient times. This space region also includes many galaxies. For example, the Pinwheel galaxy. It is better known as M 101. In size, it exceeds the Milky Way. Her detailed pictures were taken by the Hubble telescope back in early XXI century. To get to this huge cluster of stars, you need to spend 8 million light years.

The Owl Nebula is also of interest. It enters our galaxy and looks like 2 dark spots located side by side. In 1848, Lord Ross considered these spots to be like the eyes of an owl. That's where the name came from. This nebula is about 6 thousand years old, and it is located at a distance of 2300 light years from the solar system.

But the most interesting thing is that the constellation Ursa Major is considered as one of the likely sources of extraterrestrial intelligence. In this part of space there is a certain star named 47UMa. This is a yellow dwarf, and its planetary system is very similar to ours. solar system. At least, today 3 planets are known that revolve around this star. In 2003, a radio message was sent to him. Earthlings are persistently looking for brothers in mind, and luck always accompanies the stubborn.

How to find the Big Dipper in the sky?

If you want to learn how to navigate the starry sky, then your primary task is to be able to find the Big Dipper bucket. Although it is located not far from the North Star, it is still not so close to it as to be at the same point in the sky all the time.

The Big Dipper is easiest to spot in autumn and winter. At this time, in the evenings, the asterism is located in the north, not high above the horizon and in the position we are used to.

By the end of winter, the position of Ursa Major in the evening sky changes. The seven stars of the bucket move to the east, and the Big Dipper itself stands upright on the handle.

There is nothing surprising. Recall that every day all the stars describe circles around the pole of the world, thereby reflecting the rotation of the Earth around its axis. But during the year, the stars make one more additional circle, thereby reflecting the movement of the Earth in orbit around the Sun. The stars of the Big Dipper are no exception - shifting from the bottom point, the bucket, as it were, rears up.

In the middle of spring, Ursa Major is at its zenith in the evenings, right above your head! At this time, he is in an inverted position in relation to the North Star. Her bucket faces west, and the handle of the bucket faces east.

For those who live north of Moscow, the most difficult thing is to find the Big Dipper in the sky in the summer, during short nights. At this time, the constellation is in the west, and the bucket is tilted down and looks north.

How to find the North Star in Ursa Major?

Now let's see how to find the North Star using the Big Dipper. This is done simply. Take the two extreme stars in the bucket, Dubha and Merak (alpha and beta Ursa Major) and mentally connect them with a line. And then extend this line five times the distance Merak - Dubhe.

You will see a star whose brightness is approximately equal to the brightness of the bucket stars. This is the famous Polar Star, the "iron nail", as the Kazakhs called it, referring to the immobility of the Polar Star in the earth's sky.

Knowing the position of the North Star, you can easily navigate in space. Draw a plumb line from Polar down. The place where it intersects with the horizon will point north. The rest of the cardinal directions are easy to find: the east will be on the right, the south behind, and the west on the left. So, guided by the stars, in Russia in the Middle Ages they built roads Moscow - Yaroslavl and Moscow - Vladimir, straight as an arrow.

Secrets of the constellation Ursa Major: how different peoples saw it

Egypt "Bull's Thigh"

The ancient Egyptians were among the first astronomers in history, with some of their round stone "observatories" dating as far back as the fifth millennium BC. It was the Egyptians who laid the foundations for the system of constellations that the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Greeks, Arabs, and then modern science. At that dizzyingly distant time, due to the precession of the earth's axis, it was not the Pole Star that pointed north, but Alpha Draconis (Tuban). Its environs, together with the nearest luminaries, were considered by the Egyptians to be the "fixed sky", the dwelling place of the gods. Instead of a ladle, the priests could see the leg of Set, the god of war and death, who turned into a bull and killed Osiris with a blow of a hoof. Falcon-headed Horus cut off his limb in retaliation for the murder of his father.

China "Emperor Shandi Carriage"

Astronomers Ancient China divided the sky into 28 vertical sectors, "houses" through which the Moon passes in its monthly journey, as the Sun in its annual rotation passes through the signs of the Zodiac in Western astrology, which borrowed the 12-sector division from the Egyptians. In the center of heaven, like the emperor in the capital of the state, the Chinese had the North Star, which had already taken its usual place by that time. The seven brightest stars of Ursa Major are in honorable proximity to it, within the Purple Fence - one of the three Fences surrounding the palace of the "royal" star. They could be described as the Northern Dipper, whose orientation corresponds to the season, or as part of the carriage of the Heavenly Emperor Shandi.

India "Seven Wise Men"

Observational astronomy in ancient India did not develop as brilliantly as, say, mathematics. Her ideas were greatly influenced by both Greece and China - for example, 27-28 "stays" (nakshatras) through which the Moon passes in about a month are very reminiscent of Chinese lunar "houses". Hindus also gave great importance The North Star, which, according to experts in the Vedas, is the abode of Vishnu himself. The asterism of the Bucket located under it was considered the Saptarishas - the seven sages born from the mind of Brahma, the forefathers of the world of our era (Kali Yuga) and all those living in it.

Greece "Bear"

Ursa Major is one of the 48 constellations listed in Ptolemy's star catalog around 140 BC, although it was first mentioned much earlier, in Homer. Intricate Greek myths offer different backgrounds for its appearance, although everyone agrees that the bear is the beautiful Callisto, the companion of the hunting goddess Artemis. According to one version, using his usual tricks with reincarnation, the loving Zeus seduced her, provoking the wrath of both his wife Hera and Artemis herself. Saving his mistress, the Thunderer turned her into a bear, who wandered in the mountain forests for many years, until her own son, born of Zeus, met her on a hunt. The supreme god had to intervene once again. Preventing matricide, he raised both to heaven.

America "Great Bear"

It seems that the Indians understood something about wild animals: in the legend of the Iroquois about the origin of asterism, the “heavenly bear” does not have any tail. The three stars that form the handle of the ladle are three hunters chasing the beast: Aliot draws a bow with an arrow embedded in it, Mizar carries a cauldron for cooking meat (Alcor), and Benetnash carries an armful of brushwood to kindle the hearth. In autumn, when the Bucket turns and sinks low to the horizon, the blood from the wounded bear drips down, painting the trees in variegated colors.

  • The closest of bright stars Ursa Major– star Southern Alula or xi Ursa Major. This is a beautiful double star that can be separated into components in a telescope with a lens over 80mm. Both components are similar in their characteristics to the Sun and each of them also has a satellite - a cold red dwarf! The distance to ξ Ursa Major is 29 St. years. A little further away is the star θ - 44 light years from the Sun. Well, farthest from all the bright stars of the constellation is the red giant μ Ursa Major, one of the stars in the front "paw" of the Ursa. Its distance is 249 light years.
  • The constellation Ursa Major is depicted on the flag of Alaska. On the flag of the White Sea Karelia, which was approved on June 21, 1918, the Big Dipper is depicted. Also, the flag with the image of the Big Dipper is used by Irish radical left organizations.
  • Ursa Major can be admired during the day. This can easily be done by finding it on one of the interactive constellation maps. On the maps, you can find other large and small constellations and look at them in a big approximation.
  • Needless to say, the huge constellation Ursa Major is a real treasure trove for a true astronomy lover?! In this area of ​​the sky there is a huge number of attractions available for observation in small telescopes: double and variable stars, several bright galaxies and dozens of weaker galaxies, scattered star cluster and even a planetary nebula. There is no way to fit the descriptions of these objects into the scope of one article. Therefore, we decided to publish separate articles on observations of the sights of the Big Dipper.

Video

Sources

    https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursa Major https://biguniverse.ru/posts/sozvezdie-bolshaya-medveditsa/ http://spacegid.com/sozvezdie-bolshoy-medveditsyi.html

"The constellation Ursa Major is the first constellation from which you need to start to know the starry sky, if you have not learned how to find the Big Dipper, the starry sky will always remain a scattering of luminous points for you..."
"Astronomy is not currently compulsory subject at school and is taught as an elective...

Sergey Ov

Rice. 1 Constellation Ursa Major, scheme

The constellation Ursa Major (Ursa Major) is the largest constellation in the Northern Hemisphere of the sky and the third largest angular area among all the constellations of the celestial sphere (skysphere), in addition, Ursa Major is the ancestor of the group of constellations of the same name.
Being one of the largest in area, Ursa Major directly borders as many as 8 constellations - these are Bootes, Dragon, Giraffe, Lynx, Lesser Lion, Leo, Veronica's Hair and Hounds Dogs.
Ursa Major is a non-setting constellation throughout Russia (more precisely, the main asterism of the Big Dipper constellation, which can serve as a huge night sky clock, is non-setting).

Stars and contour diagram of the constellation Ursa Major

The constellation Ursa Major is the most visible and recognizable constellation in our northern sky. In the constellation, as many as seven stars are brighter than the third magnitude - this is Epsilon Ursa Major (ε UMa, 1.76 m) - Aliot, α UMa - Dubhe, η UMa - Benetnash, ζ UMa - Mizar, β UMa - Merak And Fekda(γ UMa) with the controversial ψ Ursa Major Tai Zun(Fig. 2).


Sergey Ov

Rice. 2 Constellation Ursa Major. Names of the brightest stars. Lilac line - asterism "Big Dipper" as a symbol of Ursa Major

As you can see, figure 2 shows the names of more than seven stars - not the brightest, but important for constructing the constellation diagram (Fig. 3) stars Kaffa (Megrets, δ UMa), Muscida (ο UMa), Al Khaud (θ UMa) are added and suggesting the pairing of Alula Borealis (ν UMa), Tanya Australis (μ UMa), Talita (Borealis - ι UMa, Australis - κ UMa).
It is noteworthy that paired stars form the asterism "Gazelle Leaps" that has come down to us from eastern stargazers. (Gazelle Leaps, Gazelle Footprints, Three Gazelle Leaps), delineating the far edge of the constellation. You can see the asterism Jumping Gazelle by moving the cursor to Figure 3.
To build our version of the schematic outline drawing of the constellation Ursa Major, almost the same stars are used as in traditional diagrams, but according to our outline, you can clearly imagine a polar bear:


Sergey Ov

Rice. 3 Diagram of the constellation Ursa Major. Chart by stars (outline image) of a polar bear (This very successful constellation scheme was proposed by X. Ray. It was she who served as the impetus for attempts to draw up their own constellation schemes).
Asterisms Big Dipper and Jumping Gazelle - hover over with JavaScript enabled

From the most ancient times, regardless of cultural and religious traditions, within this constellation, people have identified seven bright stars that develop into schematic drawing bucket, which is now called " asterism Big Dipper". This asterism certainly deserves a separate image (Fig. 5), since it has another characteristic group, which requires additional magnification to show - these are visually double stars Alcor and Mizar, "rider" and "horse", respectively. There is a myth that in ancient times this pair was used to test their eyesight during the selection of warriors.
All, even not very bright stars included in the Big Dipper asterism have their own names, moreover, they are derived from different peoples- this is a chain of stars (starting from the handle and ending with the scoop of the bucket). All stars used to build the Big Dipper diagram are navigation stars.
A list of more than 230 stars in Ursa Major can be found by calling the list:
.

Rice. 4 Asterism Big Dipper in the constellation Ursa Major.
Stars of the asterism "Big Dipper". Asterism "Horseman": Alcor and Mizar

After the contours and the brightest stars of the constellation have been studied to automatic recognition, you can begin to search for the constellation Ursa Major directly in the starry sky.

How to find the constellation Ursa Major

The constellation Ursa Major is usually found by its main asterism, the Big Dipper. It is best for someone to show the Big Dipper, it is enough to see this configuration of stars in the sky at least once, and it will always take shape before your eyes!
But what if there is no one to show the Big Dipper?
For the first time, the constellation Ursa Major on its own can be found as follows:

1. If you live at the latitude of Moscow, then after waiting for the month of April and going outside at about 11 pm local time, you will find the Big Dipper right above your head, at the zenith. You just have to correctly determine the angular dimensions of the bucket and mentally build its pattern according to the stars.
True, at other times of the year or if you are located significantly south of Moscow, you can’t do without a compass ...
To determine the angular dimensions, you need to know that the angular distance from Benetnash before Dubhe is about 26 °, the angular distance between the thumb and forefinger of the outstretched hand of an adult is 16-18 °, so the Big Dipper against the background of the outstretched hand will look approximately as shown in Fig. 5.

Rice. 5 Estimating the angular size of the Big Dipper using an outstretched hand.

2. What to do if you wait too long for the desired April? In this case, you need to prepare a compass and use the table proposed here:

Table A
The apparent location of the Big Dipper at the latitude of Moscow at 23:00 local time

Month of the year Direction Elevation angle Note
January Northeast 30° - 50° The bucket is turned vertically to the horizon
February northeasteast 40° - 70° Bucket deployed vertically
March East 50° - 80° Bucket deployed almost vertically
April Zenith about 90° Better look facing north
May West 55° - 90° Big Dipper Tilt 80 to 60
June Northwest West 40° - 70° Big Dipper Tilt 60 to 40
July Northwest 35° - 60° Big Dipper Tilt 40 to 20
August North-northwest 30° - 55° The bucket is turned almost horizontally
September North-northwest 20° - 30° Bucket deployed parallel to the horizon
October North 20° - 30° Tilt of the Big Dipper up from 10 to 30
November North northeast 15° - 40° Tilt of the Big Dipper up from 30 to 50
December Northeast 20° - 40° Big Dipper tilt up from 50 to 80

The note indicates the location of the Big Dipper in relation to the horizon for an observer looking in the direction of this asterism.

After you have learned to find the Big Dipper in the sky, you will have the opportunity to know all the constellations of the Northern part of the sky.
But the first thing to use the opportunities that have opened up is to determine the position of the Polar Star. If you have found the North Star (Alpha Ursa Minor), then you know the exact direction to the north and can determine the cardinal points.
To find the North Star, you need to mentally draw a line between the stars of the edge of the Bucket from Merak To Dubhe and continue to the first bright star - this will be the North Star! You can test yourself mentally by building a Small Dipper from it, as if pouring it into the Big Dipper (Fig. 6). Polar Star is the most important navigational star, and Merak And Dubhe, helping to find it, is also called Pointers.

Rice. 6 How to find the North Star? - Very simple! You need to mentally draw a line through Merak And Dubhe.

In such a position as in Figure 5, the Big Dipper and the Big Dipper can be seen in early autumn closer to midnight, if you look at the starry sky turning to the north ... I believe that the picture does not require further explanation (otherwise, write to the forum)

History and mythology of the constellation Ursa Major

Among the many myths and legends attributed to the work of the ancient Greeks, I like the one that is considered the most ancient, and also the most logically harmonious, the essence of this myth is that in infancy Zeus was raised by the goat Amalthea and two bears Big and Small. Once, when Zeus was already an adult, Amalthea rushed to him and said that the bears, his nurses and intercessors of childhood, the hunters were about to drive into an ambush. Zeus barely ripened at the last moment, snatched his benefactors by the tails from the battle and carried them to heaven, while their tails stretched out. That's why sky bears have such long tails.

Claudius Ptolemy in his star catalog tries to follow the tradition and refers to the constellation Ursa Major the stars that create the image of the bear in the representations of his time. Subsequently, Jan Hevelius, in his atlas "Uranography", tries to follow the descriptions of Ptolemy as closely as possible, unfortunately the original atlas was created in the projection of the "divine gaze" - as if you are looking at the celestial sphere from the outside. In order for the picture to correspond to the "earthly" appearance of the constellation Ursa Major, as well as to highlight the stars, the collage brought to your attention was created:

Rice. 7. The constellation Ursa Major is a collage based on a drawing in the atlas of Jan Hevelius (only those stars that were included in the atlas by Hevelius himself are highlighted). When you hover over the figure, one of the traditional constellation schemes is displayed

Sergey Ov(seosnews9)

List of notable and visible stars in the constellation Ursa Major

Star designation Bayer sign right ascension declination magnitude Distance,
St. year		 Spectral class Star name and notes
Epsilon Ursa Majorε UMa12 h 54 m 01.63 s+55° 57′ 35.4″1,76 81 A0pAlioth; possibly has a brown dwarf component
Alpha Ursa MajorαUMa11 h 03 m 43.84 s+61° 45′ 04.0″1,81 124 F7V compDubhe (Dubhe, Dubh, Dubb, Thahr al Dub al Akbar, Ak)
This Big Dipperη UMa13 h 47 m 32.55 s+49° 18′ 47.9″1,85 101 B3V SBBenetnash (Alkaid, Elkeid, Benetnasch)
Zeta Ursa Major ζ UMa 13 h 23 m 55.42 s+54° 55′ 31.5″2,23 78 A2VMizar (Mizar, Mizat, Mirza, Mitsar, Vasistha); multiple star; visual double star with Alcor
Beta Ursa Major β UMa11 h 01 m 50.39 s+56° 22′ 56.4″2,34 79 A1VMerak (Merak, Mirak)
Gamma Ursa Major γUMa11 h 53 m 49.74 s+53° 41′ 41.0″2,41 84 A0VSBFekda, Fad (Phad, Phecda, Phegda, Phekha, Phacd)
Psi Ursa Major ψ UMa11 h 09 m 39.86 s+44° 29′ 54.8″3,00 147 K1IIITai Tsun
Mu Ursa Major μ UMa10 h 22 m 19.80 s+41° 29′ 58.0″3,06 249 M0III SBTania Australis (Tania Australis, Alkafzah Australis); semiregular variable
Iota Ursa Major ιUMa08 h 59 m 12.84 s+48° 02′ 32.5″3,12 48 A7IVTalita Borealis (Talitha Borealis, Talita Borealis, Dnoces, Alphikra Borealis); quadruple star
Theta Ursa Major θUMa09 h 32 m 52.33 s+51° 40′ 43.0″3,17 44 F6IVAl Haud, Sarir, Sarir Bonet
Big Dipper Delta δUMa12 h 15 m 25.45 s+57° 01′ 57.4″3,32 81 A3VvarKaffa, Megrez (Megrez, Kaffa)
Omicron Ursa Major ο UMa08 h 30 m 16.03 s+60° 43′ 06.4″3,35 184 G4II-III
Lambda Ursa Major λUMa10 h 17 m 05.93 s+42° 54′ 52.1″3,45 134 A2IVTania Borealis (Tania Borealis, Alkafzah Borealis)
ν Ursa Majorν UMa11 h 18 m 28.76 s+33° 05′ 39.3″3,49 421 K3III SBAlula Borealis (Alula Borealis)
Kappa Ursa Major κ UMa09 h 03 m 37.56 s+47° 09′ 24.0″3,57 423 A1VnTalita Australis (Talitha Australis, Al Kaprah, Alphikra Australis)
23 Ursa Major23 Uma09 h 31 m 31.57 s+63° 03′ 42.5″3,65 75 F0IV
Chi Ursa Major χUMa11 h 46 m 03.13 s+47° 46′ 45.6″3,69 196 K0IIIAlkafzah (Alkafzah, Alkaphrah, El Koprah)
Upsilon Ursa Major υ UMa09 h 50 m 59.69 s+59° 02′ 20.8″3,78 115 F0IVvariable of type δ Shield
Xi Ursa Major A ξ UMa A11 h 18 m 11.24 s+31° 31′ 50.8″3,79 27,3 G0VAlula Australis (Alula Australis); double star
Zeta Ursa Major B ζ UMa B13 h 23 m 56.40 s+54° 55′ 18.0″3,95
Alcorg13 h 25 m 13.42 s+54° 59′ 16.8″3,99 81 A5VSBAlkor (Saidak, Suha, Arundhati); visual double star with Mizar
Xi Ursa Major B ξ UMa B11 h 18 m 11.00 s+31° 31′ 45.0″4,41 component of the system ξ Ursa Major
15 Ursa Majorf09 h 08 m 52.39 s+51° 36′ 17.0″4,46 96 Am
26 Ursa Major 09 h 34 m 49.49 s+52° 03′ 05.6″4,47 267 A2V
24 Ursa Majord09 h 34 m 28.97 s+69° 49′ 48.6″4,54 106 G4III-IV
Phi Ursa Major φ 09 h 52 m 06.36 s+54° 03′ 51.4″4,55 436 A3IV
Pi² Ursa Major π² 08h 40m 12.90s+64° 19′ 40.3″4,59 252 K2IIIMuscida (Muscida); has planet b
83 Ursa Major 13 h 40 m 44.29 s+54° 40′ 54.0″4,63 549 M2IIIvar
Omega Ursa Major ω 10 h 53 m 58.71 s+43° 11′ 24.1″4,66 267 A1Vs
Tau Ursa Major τ 09 h 10 m 54.93 s+63° 30′ 49.6″4,67 122 Am
Tau Ursa Major B τ 09 h 11 m 00.60 s+63° 31′ 29.0″4,70
HD 91312 10 h 33 m 14.00 s+40° 25′ 31.9″4,72 112 A7IV
Rho Ursa Major ρ 09 h 02 m 32.73 s+67° 37′ 46.5″4,74 287 M3III
55 Ursa Major 11 h 19 m 07.94 s+38° 11′ 08.6″4,76 183 A2V
Sigma² Ursa Major σ² 09 h 10 m 23.53 s+67° 08′ 03.3″4,80 67 F7IV-V
18 Ursa Majore09 h 16 m 11.28 s+54° 01′ 18.2″4,80 118 A5V
36 Ursa Major 10 h 30 m 37.76 s+55° 58′ 50.2″4,82 42 F8V
78 Ursa Major 13 h 00 m 43.59 s+56° 21′ 58.8″4,93 81 F2V
HD 89822 10 h 24 m 07.86 s+65° 33′ 59.3″4,94 301 A0sp…
56 Ursa Major 11 h 22 m 49.61 s+43° 28′ 57.9″4,99 492 G8II
HD 92523 10 h 43 m 04.04 s+69° 04′ 34.5″5,01 426 K3III
46 Ursa Major 10 h 55 m 44.46 s+33° 30′ 25.2″5,02 245 K1III
47 Ursa Major 10 h 59 m 28.22 s+40° 25′ 48.4″5,03 46 G0Vhas two exoplanets: b and c
49 Ursa Major 11 h 00 m 50.48 s+39° 12′ 43.7″5,06 403 Am
15 Small Lion 09 h 48 m 35.18 s+46° 01′ 16.4″5,08 60 G2V
44 Lynxes 09 h 46 m 31.66 s+57° 07′ 40.8″5,09 556 M3III
38 Ursa Major 10 h 41 m 56.78 s+65° 42′ 59.3″5,12 224 K2IIIvar
44 Ursa Major 10 h 53 m 34.52 s+54° 35′ 06.5″5,12 676 K3III
Sigma¹ Ursa Major σ¹ 09 h 08 m 23.53 s+66° 52′ 24.0″5,15 498 K5III
27 Ursa Major 09 h 42 m 57.24 s+72° 15′ 09.7″5,15 442 K0III
37 Ursa Major 10 h 35 m 09.62 s+57° 04′ 57.2″5,16 86 F1V
16 Ursa Majorc09 h 14 m 20.55 s+61° 25′ 24.2″5,18 64 F9V
HD 92787 10 h 43 m 33.12 s+46° 12′ 14.5″5,18 116 F5III
67 Ursa Major 12 h 02 m 07.06 s+43° 02′ 43.7″5,22 111 A7m
31 Ursa Major 09 h 55 m 43.01 s+49° 49′ 11.3″5,27 223 A3III
HD 102328 11 h 46 m 55.61 s+55° 37′ 41.8″5,27 206 K3III
17 Ursa Major 09 h 15 m 49.81 s+56° 44′ 29.3″5,28 681 K5III
57 Ursa Major 11 h 29 m 04.16 s+39° 20′ 13.0″5,30 209 A2V
61 Ursa Major 11 h 41 m 03.03 s+34° 12′ 09.2″5,31 31 G8Vvar
55 Giraffe 08 h 12 m 48.79 s+68° 28′ 26.6″5,34 1062 G8II
74 Ursa Major 12 h 29 m 57.40 s+58° 24′ 19.9″5,37 274 A5e…
HD 117376 13 h 28 m 27.18 s+59° 56′ 44.5″5,40 236 A1Vn
41 Lynx 09 h 28 m 39.99 s+45° 36′ 06.5″5,41 288 K0III-IVhas planet b
HD 100203 11 h 32 m 20.76 s+61° 04′ 57.9″5,46 90 F6V
82 Ursa Major 13 h 39 m 30.58 s+52° 55′ 15.9″5,46 169 A3Vn
2 Ursa MajorA08 h 34 m 36.19 s+65° 08′ 43.0″5,47 158 A2m
HD 95212 11 h 00 m 14.70 s+45° 31′ 34.6″5,47 881 K5III
HD 77601 09 h 05 m 24.11 s+48° 31′ 49.3″5,48 348 F6II-III
HD 86378 09 h 59 m 51.72 s+56° 48′ 42.8″5,50 510 K5III
T Ursa Major 12 h 36 m 23.30 s+59° 29′ 13.0″5,50 variable star
70 Ursa Major 12 h 20 m 50.83 s+57° 51′ 51.4″5,54 701 K5III
HD 92095 10 h 39 m 05.74 s+53° 40′ 06.6″5,55 514 K3III
59 Ursa Major 11 h 38 m 20.69 s+43° 37′ 31.8″5,56 149 F2II-III
6 Ursa Major 08 h 56 m 37.49 s+64° 36′ 14.5″5,57 308 G6III
42 Ursa Major 10 h 51 m 23.76 s+59° 19′ 12.9″5,57 263 K2III
HD 104438 12 h 01 m 39.53 s+36° 02′ 32.2″5,59 362 K0III
81 Ursa Major 13h 34m 07.33s+55° 20′ 54.4″5,60 277 A0V
π¹ Ursa Majorπ¹ 08 h 39 m 11.74 s+65° 01′ 14.5″5,63 47 G1.5VbMuscida
HD 100615 11 h 35 m 04.90 s+54° 47′ 07.4″5,63 411 K0III
HD 73017 08 h 38 m 22.26 s+53° 24′ 05.7″5,66 241 G8IV
43 Ursa Major 10 h 51 m 11.08 s+56° 34′ 56.1″5,66 350 K2III
73 Ursa Major 12 h 27 m 35.13 s+55° 42′ 45.9″5,68 439 M2III
84 Ursa Major 13 h 46 m 35.68 s+54° 25′ 57.7″5,68 282 B9pEuCr
86 Ursa Major 13 h 53 m 51.04 s+53° 43′ 43.3″5,70 444 A0V
HD 87141 10 h 04 m 36.35 s+53° 53′ 30.2″5,71 154 F5V
HD 96813 11 h 09 m 19.11 s+36° 18′ 34.0″5,71 379 M3.5III
5 Ursa Majorb08 h 53 m 22.57 s+61° 57′ 44.0″5,72 285 F2III
HD 83489 09 h 42 m 14.93 s+69° 14′ 15.7″5,72 479 G9III:
57 Giraffe 08 h 19 m 17.18 s+62° 30′ 25.7″5,73 470 G8III
HD 89744 10 h 22 m 10.66 s+41° 13′ 47.5″5,73 127 F7Vhas planet b
47 Small Lion 10 h 54 m 58.22 s+34° 02′ 05.7″5,73 305 G7III:
HD 99283 11 h 25 m 57.18 s+55° 51′ 01.2″5,73 348 K0III
62 Ursa Major 11 h 41 m 34.50 s+31° 44′ 45.5″5,73 133 F4V
HD 102713 11 h 49 m 41.80 s+34° 55′ 54.3″5,73 227 F5IV
HD 77309 09 h 04 m 00.40 s+54° 17′ 02.0″5,74 336 A2V
32 Ursa Major 10 h 18 m 02.15 s+65° 06′ 30.1″5,74 249 A8III
HD 92354 10 h 41 m 48.31 s+68° 26′ 36.8″5,74 586 K3III
22 Ursa Major 09 h 34 m 53.39 s+72° 12′ 21.1″5,77 163 F7V
HD 80390 09 h 21 m 43.30 s+56° 41′ 57.3″5,79 477 M4IIIa
39 Ursa Major 10 h 43 m 43.32 s+57° 11′ 57.6″5,79 368 A0Vs
HD 106884 12 h 17 m 29.56 s+53° 11′ 29.2″5,80 382 K6III
71 Ursa Major 12 h 25 m 03.22 s+56° 46′ 40.3″5,82 1190 M3III
HD 99747 11 h 29 m 04.70 s+61° 46′ 40.0″5,83 107 F5Vawvar
66 Ursa Major 11 h 55 m 58.41 s+56° 35′ 54.8″5,83 315 K1III
HD 111456 12 h 48 m 39.34 s+60° 19′ 11.6″5,83 79 F5V
HD 112486 12 h 56 m 17.64 s+54° 05′ 58.1″5,84 256 A5m
HD 85841 09 h 58 m 22.91 s+72° 52′ 46.6″5,86 370 K3III:
HD 89343 10 h 21 m 03.43 s+68° 44′ 51.8″5,88 410 A7Vn
HD 97989 11 h 16 m 41.93 s+49° 28′ 34.6″5,88 421 K0III:
HD 111270 12 h 47 m 18.93 s+62° 46′ 52.1″5,88 206 A9V
HD 71088 08 h 29 m 46.29 s+67° 17′ 50.7″5,89 322 G8III
HD 96834 11 h 09 m 38.55 s+43° 12′ 27.9″5,89 566 M2III
HD 73171 08 h 39 m 17.65 s+52° 42′ 42.1″5,91 397 K1III:
HD 94132 10 h 53 m 31.38 s+69° 51′ 14.6″5,91 142 G9IV
HD 78935 09 h 15 m 52.75 s+72° 56′ 47.3″5,93 291 F0III
58 Ursa Major 11 h 30 m 31.17 s+43° 10′ 23.0″5,94 183 F4V
HD 92839 10 h 45 m 04.02 s+67° 24′ 41.0″5,95 1132 C5II
HD 104075 11 h 59 m 17.54 s+33° 10′ 01.3″5,95 671 K1III
HD 79763 09 h 17 m 31.17 s+46° 49′ 01.9″5,96 367 A1V
HD 83126 09 h 39 m 27.92 s+67° 16′ 20.4″5,96 543 K5
HD 85945 09 h 57 m 13.57 s+57° 25′ 06.1″5,97 466 G8III
HD 120787 13 h 49 m 45.43 s+61° 29′ 22.4″5,97 395 G3V
HD 95129 10 h 59 m 32.74 s+36° 05′ 35.6″5,99 888 M2III
HD 68951 08 h 20 m 40.32 s+72° 24′ 26.3″6,00 948 M0III
HD 89319 10 h 19 m 26.88 s+48° 23′ 49.3″6,00 141 K0
HD 90470 10 h 27 m 28.08 s+41° 36′ 04.4″6,00 216 A2V
HD 89414 10 h 20 m 31.18 s+54° 13′ 00.7″6,01 457 K3III:
51 Ursa Major 11 h 04 m 31.28 s+38° 14′ 28.9″6,01 263 A3III-IV
HD 98772 11 h 22 m 51.25 s+64° 19′ 49.5″6,02 282 A3V
76 Ursa Major 12 h 41 m 33.95 s+62° 42′ 47.1″6,02 581 A2III
HD 119765 13 h 43 m 54.80 s+52° 03′ 51.9″6,02 345 A1V
HD 94669 10 h 56 m 14.51 s+42° 00′ 30.2″6,03 312 K2III
HD 95241 11 h 00 m 20.76 s+42° 54′ 43.3″6,03 148 F9V
HD 90745 10 h 30 m 26.65 s+64° 15′ 28.1″6,07 289 A7III
HD 96707 11 h 09 m 39.92 s+67° 12′ 37.0″6,07 355 F0sp…
75 Ursa Major 12 h 30 m 04.22 s+58° 46′ 04.1″6,07 428 G8III-IV
60 Ursa Major 11 h 38 m 33.54 s+46° 50′ 03.4″6,09 351 F5IIIs
37 Lynx 09 h 20 m 43.79 s+51° 15′ 56.6″6,14 95 F3V
HD 101013 11 h 37 m 53.05 s+50° 37′ 05.8″6,14 461 K0p…
HD 105043 12 h 05 m 39.76 s+62° 55′ 59.9″6,14 373 K2III
HD 113994 13 h 06 m 22.86 s+62° 02′ 31.1″6,15 377 G7III
HD 122866 14 h 02 m 59.78 s+50° 58′ 18.6″6,16 313 A2V
HD 83962 09 h 44 m 36.62 s+64° 59′ 02.6″6,18 351 F3Vn
U Ursa Major 10 h 15 m 07.65 s+59° 59′ 07.9″6,18 1743 M0IIIvar
1 Hound Dogs 12 h 14 m 43.43 s+53° 26′ 04.8″6,18 505 K0III:
HD 74604 08 h 48 m 49.28 s+66° 42′ 29.4″6,20 514 B8V
HD 98499 11 h 20 m 53.71 s+67° 06′ 03.1″6,20 439 G8
HD 108954 12 h 30 m 50.12 s+53° 04′ 34.2″6,20 72 F9V
HD 73971 08h 43m 00.19s+46° 54′ 03.6″6,21 412 G8III
HD 95057 10 h 59 m 17.89 s+51° 52′ 56.5″6,22 681 K0
HD 103736 11 h 56 m 53.27 s+61° 32′ 57.5″6,22 612 G8III
HD 80953 09 h 25 m 44.19 s+63° 56′ 27.7″6,24 809 K2III
HD 102942 11 h 51 m 09.51 s+33° 22′ 29.9″6,25 205 Am
HD 84812 09 h 50 m 23.67 s+65° 35′ 35.9″6,27 306 A9Vn
HD 101604 11 h 41 m 43.52 s+55° 10′ 19.2″6,28 1006 K5
HD 119213 13 h 40 m 21.44 s+57° 12′ 27.2″6,28 288 A4p SrCrEu
HD 85583 09 h 55 m 03.35 s+61° 06′ 58.1″6,29 389 K0
HD 99859 11 h 29 m 43.66 s+56° 44′ 15.6″6,29 221 A4m
HD 101151 11 h 38 m 32.33 s+33° 37′ 33.1″6,29 634 K2III
HD 101177 11 h 38 m 45.39 s+45° 06′ 30.2″6,29 76 G0V
HD 81025 09 h 24 m 55.64 s+51° 34′ 26.1″6,30 432 G2III
HD 99967 11 h 30 m 24.83 s+46° 39′ 26.9″6,30 985 K2IIICN-1
HD 71553 08 h 32 m 53.27 s+69° 19′ 11.9″6,31 619 K0
HD 87243 10 h 05 m 10.40 s+52° 22′ 16.7″6,31 330 A5IV
HD 119124 13h 40m 23.35s+50° 31′ 09.4″6,31 82 F7.7V
35 Ursa Major 10 h 29 m 54.43 s+65° 37′ 34.7″6,32 313 K2III:
HD 97501 11 h 13 m 40.10 s+41° 05′ 19.7″6,33 332 K2III
HD 99373 11 h 26 m 25.58 s+33° 27′ 02.0″6,33 188 F6IV
HD 73131 08 h 38 m 59.92 s+52° 55′ 30.5″6,34 581 K0
HD 86166 09 h 57 m 56.84 s+45° 24′ 51.8″6,34 418 K0III
41 Ursa Major 10 h 46 m 22.54 s+57° 21′ 57.8″6,34 756 M1III
68 Ursa Major 12 h 11 m 44.89 s+57° 03′ 16.0″6,34 970 K5III
HD 117242 13 h 27 m 59.73 s+52° 44′ 44.3″6,34 325 F0
HD 75487 08 h 53 m 05.93 s+59° 03′ 22.1″6,35 201 F5IV-V
HD 101391 11 h 40 m 27.44 s+57° 58′ 13.3″6,35 526 B9p…
HD 83869 09 h 42 m 43.12 s+48° 25′ 51.8″6,36 435 A1V
HD 90602 10 h 28 m 36.54 s+45° 12′ 44.1″6,37 763 K0
HD 95256 11 h 01 m 05.73 s+63° 25′ 16.4″6,38 284 A2m
HD 100470 11 h 33 m 56.38 s+36° 48′ 56.7″6,38 424 K0III
HD 110678 12h 43m 04.19s+61° 09′ 19.3″6,39 477 K0
HD 80461 09 h 21 m 23.61 s+45° 22′ 12.5″6,40 713 K0
HD 93427 10 h 48 m 49.86 s+65° 07′ 56.9″6,40 420 A1V
HD 97138 11 h 12 m 10.90 s+68° 16′ 18.7″6,40 300 A3V
HD 100030 11 h 30 m 53.14 s+47° 55′ 44.8″6,40 328 G9IV
HD 82969 09 h 37 m 37.52 s+60° 12′ 49.5″6,41 321 G5
HD 95233 11 h 00 m 25.58 s+51° 30′ 07.7″6,41 568 G9III
HD 97334 11 h 12 m 32.53 s+35° 48′ 52.0″6,41 71 G0V
HD 69976 08 h 22 m 44.06 s+60° 37′ 52.5″6,42 444 K0III
HD 89268 10 h 18 m 58.77 s+46° 45′ 39.1″6,42 830 K1III
HD 90508 10 h 28 m 03.81 s+48° 47′ 13.4″6,42 77 G1V
HD 93551 10 h 49 m 28.82 s+63° 48′ 36.0″6,42 862 K0
Star of Groombridge 11 h 52 m 55.82 s+37° 43′ 58.1″6,42 30 G8Vp
HD 103928 11 h 58 m 07.25 s+32° 16′ 26.6″6,42 155 A9V
56 Giraffe 08 h 15 m 50.52 s+60° 22′ 50.1″6,43 499 A7Vm
HD 98673 11 h 21 m 49.35 s+57° 04′ 29.4″6,43 255 A7Vn
HD 77692 09 h 06 m 43.16 s+59° 20′ 40.4″6,44 1132 A2V
HD 94084 10 h 52 m 32.11 s+52° 30′ 13.4″6,44 315 K2III
HD 95572 11 h 03 m 27.37 s+70° 01′ 51.0″6,44 734 K0
HD 89389 10 h 20 m 14.88 s+53° 46′ 45.4″6,45 100 F9V
HD 120874 13 h 50 m 27.77 s+58° 32′ 21.9″6,45 269 A3V
HD 73029 08 h 39 m 10.10 s+59° 56′ 21.3″6,47 360 A2Vn
HD 103500 11 h 55 m 14.10 s+36° 45′ 23.4″6,47 588 M3III
HD 119992 13 h 45 m 13.10 s+55° 52′ 48.8″6,47 110 F7IV-V
HD 123977 14 h 08 m 46.19 s+59° 20′ 15.7″6,47 438 K0III
HD 89221 10 h 18 m 32.91 s+43° 02′ 55.1″6,48 116 G5
HD 118536 13 h 36 m 39.89 s+49° 29′ 12.1″6,48 500 K1III
HD 82408 09 h 33 m 11.26 s+45° 30′ 49.9″6,49 584 K0
HD 101150 11 h 38 m 49.12 s+64° 20′ 49.1″6,49 640 A5IV
HD 104179 11 h 59 m 57.41 s+34° 02′ 04.8″6,49 374 A9III
HD 118970 13 h 39 m 14.92 s+51° 48′ 15.1″6,49 1495 K2
HD 122064 13 h 57 m 32.10 s+61° 29′ 32.4″6,49 33 K3V
HD 81790 09 h 29 m 47.87 s+55° 44′ 43.2″6,50 145 F3Vs
HD 83564 09 h 41 m 16.76 s+55° 51′ 59.7″6,50 412 K1III-IV
HD 83886 09h 43m 07.00s+54° 21′ 49.6″6,50 299 A5m
HD 113436 13 h 02 m 40.46 s+59° 42′ 58.8″6,50 615 A3Vn
HD 117043 13 h 26 m 00.37 s+63° 15′ 38.7″6,50 70 G6V
28 Ursa Major 09 h 45 m 55.38 s+63° 39′ 12.3″6,51 252 F2V
65 Ursa Major 11 h 55 m 05.74 s+46° 28′ 36.6″6,54 801 A3Vn
14 Small Lion 09 h 46 m 42.44 s+45° 06′ 53.0″6,81 270 K0IV
65 Ursa Major 11 h 55 m 11.32 s+46° 28′ 11.2″7,03 1025 A1spe…
72 Ursa Major 12 h 26 m 32.60 s+55° 09′ 33.9″7,03 472 Am
40 Ursa Major 10 h 45 m 59.86 s+56° 55′ 14.9″7,11 363 A8V
Lalande 21185 11 h 03 m 20.10 s+35° 58′ 12.0″7,47 8,29 M2V4th closest star; supposed to have planets
W Ursa Major h m s 7,75 162 prototype of variables of type W Ursa Major, Vmax = +7.75m, Vmin = +8.48m, P = 0.3336 d
HD 118203 13 h 34 m 02.54 s+53° 43′ 42.7″8,07 289 K0has planet b
HD 68988 08 h 18 m 22.17 s+61° 27′ 38.6″8,21 192 G0has planet b and unconfirmed planet c
HD 80606 09 h 22 m 37.57 s+50° 36′ 13.4″8,93 190 G5has planet b
Winnecke 4 h m s 9,0 510 M40; optical double star
SZ Ursa Major h m s 9,31 variable star
R Ursa Major 10 h 44 m 38.80 s+68° 46′ 33.0″10,10 variable star
HAT-P-3 13 h 44 m 22.58 s+48° 01′ 43.2″11,86 457 Khas planet HAT-P-3 b
CF Ursa Major h m s 12,00 variable star
WX Ursa Major h m s 14,4 variable star

Notes:
1. Bayer signs (ε Leo), as well as Flamsteed numbering (54 Leo) and Draper catalog (HD 94402) are used to designate stars.
2. Remarkable stars include even those that are not visible without the help of optics, but in which planets or other features have been found.

Big Dipper- constellation of the northern hemisphere of the sky. The seven stars of Ursa Major make up a figure resembling a ladle with a handle. The two brightest stars, Aliot and Dubhe, have magnitudes of 1.8 apparent magnitudes. According to the two extreme stars of this figure (α and β), you can find the Polar Star. The best visibility conditions are in March-April. It can be seen throughout Russia all year round (with the exception of the autumn months in southern Russia, when the Big Dipper descends low to the horizon).

There are about 125 stars in the constellation, but only seven are called the largest and brightest: Dubhe, Merak, Fekda, Megrets, Aliot, Mizar and Alkaid. Between themselves, they form a bucket, which is visible to the naked eye.

The legend of the appearance of the constellation

In distant Greenland there is also a legend in which the constellation Ursa Major appears. The mythology and history of this cluster is quite popular. But one story has gained the greatest popularity among the Eskimos, about which absolutely everyone tells. It has even been suggested that this legend is not fiction, but the purest truth. In a snowy house, on the very edge of Greenland, lived the great hunter Eriulok. He lived in a hut alone, as he was arrogant, considering himself the best in his field. Therefore, he did not want to communicate with his other compatriots. For many years in a row he went to sea and always returned with rich booty. In his house there was always a lot of food, seal fat, and the walls of his dwelling were decorated with the best skins of walruses, seals and seals.

Eriulok was rich, well-fed, but lonely. And loneliness over time began to burden the great hunter. He tried to make friends with his fellow Eskimos, but they did not want to deal with an arrogant relative. Apparently, he offended them greatly at the time. In desperation, Eriulok went to the Arctic Ocean and called the mistress sea ​​depths, the goddess Arnarquachssak. He told her about himself and his trouble. The goddess promised to help, but in return, Eriulok had to bring her a ladle with magical berries that would restore youth to the goddess. The hunter agreed and went to a distant island, found a cave guarded by a bear. After much torment, he put the forest animal to sleep and stole a ladle of berries. The goddess did not deceive the hunter and gave him a wife, and in return received magical berries.

After all the adventures, Eriulok got married and became the father of a large family, to the envy of all the neighbors in the area. As for the goddess, she ate all the berries, rejuvenated by a couple of hundred centuries, and joyfully threw an empty bucket into the sky, where he, clinging to something, remained hanging.

Stars and asterisms

Ursa Major is the third largest constellation (after Hydra and Virgo), whose seven bright stars form the famous Big Bucket; this asterism has been known since antiquity among many peoples under different names: the Rocker, the Plow, the Elk, the Wagon, the Seven Wise Men, etc. All the stars of the Bucket have their own Arabic names:

  • Dubhe(α Ursa Major) means "bear";
  • Merak(β) - "lower back";
  • Fekda(γ) - "thigh";
  • Megrets(δ) - "the beginning of the tail";
  • Aliot(ε) - the meaning is not clear (but, most likely, this name means "fat tail");
  • Mizar(ζ) - "sash" or "loincloth".
  • The last star in the bucket handle is called Benetnash or Alkaid(η); in Arabic, "al-Qaeed banat ours" means "leader of the mourners." This poetic image is taken from the Arab folk interpretation of the constellation Ursa Major.

In the system of naming stars with Greek letters, the order of the letters simply corresponds to the order of the stars.

Another interpretation of asterism is reflected in the alternative name Hearse and Wailers. Here, asterism is thought of as a funeral procession: in front of the mourners, led by a leader, behind them are a funeral stretcher. This explains the name of the star η Ursa Major "the leader of the mourners."

Bucket inner stars

5 inner stars of the Bucket (except for the extreme α and η) really belong to a single group in space - the moving cluster Ursa Major, which moves quite quickly across the sky; Dubhe and Benetnash are moving in the opposite direction, so the shape of the Dipper changes significantly in about 100,000 years.

Stars Merak and Dubhe

They form the wall of the Bucket, are called pointers, since the straight line drawn through them rests on the North Star (in the constellation Ursa Minor). Six stars of the Bucket have a shine of the 2nd magnitude, and only Megrets is of the 3rd magnitude.

Alcor

Next to Mizar, which was the second among the double stars discovered in the telescope (Giovanni Riccioli in 1650; according to the data of the early 2000s, it was probably observed as a double as early as 1617 by Galileo). A keen eye sees a star of magnitude 4 Alcor (80 Ursa Major), which in Arabic means “forgotten”, or “insignificant”. It is believed that the ability to distinguish the star Alcor has been a recognized test of vigilance since ancient times. The pair of stars Mizar and Alcor is often interpreted as an asterism " horse and rider».

Three gazelle jumps

Peculiar asterism Three gazelle jumps of Arabic origin consists of three pairs of closely spaced stars, and the pairs are on the same straight line and separated by equal distances. Associated with hoofprints of a gazelle moving by jumps. Includes stars:

  • Alula North and Alula South (v and ξ, first jump),
  • Taniya North and Taniya South (λ and μ, second jump),
  • Talita North and Talita South (ι and κ, third jump).

Arcturus

Aliot, Mizar and Benetnash form an extended arc that points to Arcturus, the brightest star north of the celestial equator, and also the brightest star visible in the spring in mid-latitudes of Russia. As this arc extends further south, it points to Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo.

Lalande 21185

The red dwarf, located in the Alula Severnaya region and inaccessible to observations with the naked eye, is one of the closest star systems to Earth, only Alpha Centauri, Barnard's star and Wolf 359 are closer to it. Groombridge 1830, which is inferior in its own motion to only Barnard's star and Kapteyn's star, in a hundred years it shifts by about a third of the lunar disk.

Constellation legends. Star of Dubhe

There are a huge number of legends and tales about the cluster of luminaries Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. The following belief goes about the brightest star Dubhe from the constellation Ursa Major. The daughter of King Lycaon, the beautiful Callisto was one of the huntresses of the goddess Artemis. The almighty Zeus fell in love with Callisto, and she gave birth to the boy Arkas. For this, the jealous wife of Zeus, Hera, turned Callisto into a bear. When Arkas grew up and became a hunter, he attacked the trail of a bear and was already preparing to hit the beast with an arrow. Zeus, seeing what was happening, did not allow the murder. It was he who turned Arkas into a smaller bear. The ruler of heaven placed them in the sky so that mother and son would always remain together.

Ursa Major ranks third among the constellations in terms of area, but unusually few variable stars have been found there - for 2011 it is not included in the top ten constellations in this indicator.

  • The Hubble Ultra Deep Field was imaged in a region one-twelfth the size of the lunar disk near the star Megrets. As of 2011, this is one of the most detailed images of the starry sky, allowing you to distinguish between many galaxies billions of light years away from Earth.
  • Scars in the shape of the constellation Ursa Major on the chest are worn by the character of the popular in many countries anime and manga Hokuto No Ken, Kenshiro. At the moment, only the independent three-part novella "Fist of the North Star: New Era" is available in the official Russian translation.
  • The world's first cryonics company is named after a star from the constellation Ursa Major.
  • Soviet archaeologist and historian, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Rybakov B.A. in his well-known work, he wrote: “The most important constellation of our northern hemisphere - Ursa Major - in the Russian North was called “Elk”, “Prongs” ... The Poles call the North Star “Moose Star” (Gwiazda Łosiowa). Among the Evenks, the constellation Ursa Major (Ursus Major) is called "Moose Heglen".
  • In the animated series "Gravity Falls" on the forehead of the main character Dipper Pines there is a birthmark in the form of this constellation. Because of him, he got the nickname Dipper ( dipper from English - ladle, and the constellation Ursa Major is sometimes called the Big Dipper).

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