Ursa Major
Home of the Big Dipper
Best on March–May evenings · far-northern sky (circumpolar for much of the northern hemisphere).
Ursa Major, the Great Bear, is one of the largest constellations in the sky — but nearly everyone knows it by the seven-star pattern inside it: the Big Dipper. From mid-northern latitudes it's circumpolar, wheeling around the pole all year and never quite setting.
How to find it
Best placed high in the north on spring evenings, though it's up most of the year from northern latitudes. Find the Dipper's seven stars — a rectangular 'bowl' and a curved 'handle' — then use the two stars at the lip of the bowl, Dubhe and Merak, as pointers: extend their line and it lands on Polaris, the North Star.
Brightest stars
The Dipper's stars are closely matched in brightness. Alioth leads at magnitude 1.77, with yellow-tinged Dubhe (1.79) and Alkaid (1.86) just behind, and Mizar (2.27) sitting at the bend of the handle.
Worth seeing
Look closely at Mizar, the star at the bend of the handle — it's a celebrated naked-eye double, with a fainter companion riding right beside it that has tested keen eyesight for generations.
Frequently asked
When is the Big Dipper visible?
From mid-northern latitudes it's circumpolar — up on every clear night, all year round — and it rides highest on spring evenings.
What are the brightest stars in Ursa Major?
Alioth (magnitude 1.77), Dubhe (1.79) and Alkaid (1.86) are the brightest, all part of the Big Dipper, with Mizar marking the bend of the handle.
How do I find the North Star from the Big Dipper?
Follow the two stars at the outer lip of the Dipper's bowl, Dubhe and Merak, in a straight line away from the bowl — they point almost exactly at Polaris.
Nearby constellations
Ursa Minor · Cancer · Leo · Draco · Boötes · Auriga · Gemini · Cepheus