The third largest constellation in the sky... An invaluable find for every true astronomy lover living in the northern hemisphere of the Earth. Inside and around the Big Dipper, telescopes find many interesting objects, which, at the same time, are available for observation almost all year round!
Here, every observer will find an object to their liking. Ursa Major has dozens of binary and variable stars available for visual inspection, some beautiful asterisms, a planetary nebula, and even an open star cluster. But the main actors, of course, are the galaxies. Ursa Major is a window to the Universe; looking at this section of the sky, we easily penetrate a thin layer of stars nearby the Sun and rush into the boundless depths of space. Neither star clouds nor galactic dust prevent us from exploring distant galaxies, because Ursa Major is located away from the Milky Way.
There are a myriad of galaxies in the constellation Ursa Major, many of which are grouped together, as in this image. Almost a thousand galaxies are available for observation in large amateur telescopes in the suburban sky. A photo: Dr. Stefan Binnewies/Josef Popsel
Even a simple listing of all the objects that can be observed in this constellation with an advanced amateur telescope would take up an unreasonable amount of space. Keeping in mind that most amateurs do not have super-expensive instruments, they observe from time to time and in not the most pleasant conditions (flare, cloudiness, and so on), we tried to select only those objects that are the most interesting and exciting, objects that we try to see every true connoisseur of the starry sky should.
But even here we had to divide the article into two parts. In the first part, we will get acquainted with the stars and star patterns of Ursa Major, and the second part will be devoted to deep space objects - nebulae and galaxies. In both cases, we will pass this gigantic section of the sky along and across: from the tip of the tail to the muzzle of the celestial beast and from its withers to its paws. Of course, we will focus on the objects inside the Big Dipper - there is something to see there!
What do we need to travel?
- First of all, you need to get a good star atlas or a set of star charts. This is necessary for orientation in the sky and search for the necessary objects - stars, nebulae and galaxies. You can, of course, use the services of a planetarium program such as Stellarium, but during observations it would be better to have maps at hand - in paper form. In any case, for most of the objects described below, we provide drawings for their search.
- Secondly, equipment. Good astronomical binoculars will suffice for observing variables and some binary stars. The same applies to asterisms and the brightest galaxies. To observe the rest of the objects, you will need a telescope with a 90 mm lens or higher. (Telescopes with a smaller lens are only good for observing some double stars, and other objects are best observed with binoculars with the same or even a slightly smaller lens.) Obviously, the larger the telescope you have, the fainter objects you will be able to see.
- Thirdly, a truly dark sky is highly desirable. If the described stars can still be observed in the city, then in order to examine nebulous objects it is necessary to reduce the illumination to a minimum. If you have such an opportunity - use it.
Well, now we can begin our journey!
The first and simplest object in the constellation Ursa Major, which is perfectly visible to the naked eye at any time of the year, of course. This star pattern, formed by seven stars of approximately the same brightness, is known to almost everyone since childhood. The bucket itself is not a constellation, it is only a part, albeit the brightest, of the constellation Ursa Major. Such memorable star patterns that are not constellations are called.
The Big Dipper has played an important role in the life of civilization for thousands of years, helping sailors, nomads and travelers to navigate the terrain. Not surprisingly, all of its stars have their own names, and some even have several names! Here they are, if listed from right to left, from the bucket to its handle: Dubhe, Merak, Fekda, Megrets, Aliot, Mizar and Benetnash (or Alkaid). All names are of Arabic origin; they sound unusual, but in translation they mean rather prosaic things, such as: “back”, “thigh”, “lower back”, “base of the tail” and so on.
Big Dipper over the pagoda. A photo: flickr.com/Syu2
Look closely at the stars of the Big Dipper when this asterism is high in the sky and the stars are not twinkling. Did you notice anything? All Stars white color, with the exception of the star Dubhe, the topmost star in the bucket, which is yellowish in color. It is strange, isn't it, to see such a cluster of stars comparable in color and brightness in a fairly small area of the sky? Perhaps something similar is observed only in the constellation of Orion, where all the bright stars, with the exception of Betelgeuse, are like two drops of water. Perhaps this arrangement of stars in our sky is not accidental?
Really, five of the seven bucket stars are related to each other by a common origin. Observations made in the second half of the 19th century showed that Merak, Fekda, Megrez, Aliot and Mizar are approximately the same distance from us (about 80 light years) and fly in space more or less in the same direction. When astronomers seriously took up the inventory of their celestial economy, it turned out that in the vicinity of the Big Dipper there are about a dozen more stars that follow the galactic orbit along with our five. Among them is Mizar's optical companion, the star Alcor!
Ursa Major moving group(other name Collider 285) is the closest open star cluster to Earth. The distance to its center is estimated at 75-80 light years, and the diameter of the cluster is 30 light years. True, here it is necessary to clarify that by now about 40 more stars have been identified that may belong to the group. The Ursa Major Stream, as astronomers call the collection of these stars, includes luminaries scattered throughout the sky - from the constellation Cepheus to the Southern Triangle. If their membership of the cluster is confirmed, this would mean that the Ursa Major Moving Group is much larger than we imagine, and the Sun is currently inside the cluster.
Does this mean that the solar system is part of an open star cluster? No. The age of the Ursa Major Moving Group does not exceed 300 million years - the Sun is almost 10 times older. The velocities and motion vectors of the stars in the cluster are the same, but not equal to the solar ones: the cluster moves obliquely with respect to the solar system, flying past at a speed of 46 km/s. Conclusion: we are random fellow travelers in this dance of the luminaries.
Other asterisms
In the Big Dipper there are some more entertaining asterisms, which, however, are not as easy to find as the Big Dipper. To observe them, you will need good astronomical binoculars with a lens over 50 mm and a not too illuminated sky, since the stars that make up these drawings are quite weak.
Broken wedding ring
This is perhaps the most famous telescopic asterism in the constellation. Compact and expressive enough, it is an excellent target for binoculars and small telescopes. The asterism consists of ten stars 7 m - 11 m , forming a semi-ring with a diameter of half the lunar disk. The brightest star in this chain looks like a diamond embedded in a ring.
Asterism A broken wedding ring in the constellation Ursa Major (bottom of the image). A photo: DSS2
Actually, it is thanks to its characteristic shape that this tiny star pattern got its name, although some observers argue that the asterism is more like a papal tiara than a wedding ring, albeit a broken one.
Finding the Broken Wedding Ring is easy: the asterism is located 1.5° west (to the right) of the star Merak, the lowest star in the Big Dipper. By the way, this pseudocluster also has an “official” name: Sachariassen 1.
Asterism A broken wedding ring is located at a distance of three discs of the Moon from the star Merak. Picture: Stellarium/Big Universe
Shovel
We wrote above that Ursa Major is a real treasure trove of interesting space objects. To dig it out, you need a good shovel. And she is available!
Be sure to take a look at the Spade asterism, which is located between the stars phi (φ) and theta (θ) Ursa Major!
The heavenly "shovel" is located between the stars phi and theta Ursa Major. Picture: Stellarium
With 50mm binoculars you will only see a string of rather dim stars, however, armed with a more powerful tool, such as binoculars with a 70mm lens or a telescope with a wide field of view, you will easily find this important treasure hunt tool!
Shovel photograph taken as part of the Digital Sky Survey project. A photo: DSS2
The figure of asterism is formed by 11 stars 8 m - 10 m; the brightest are the handle of the shovel and its lower rim. The place of attachment of the handle and the upper part of the shovel itself are marked with stars of the 10th magnitude. Please note: the tip of the shovel is blunt, there is clearly one star missing! Therefore, this is a slightly strange shovel, a cross between a shovel and a bayonet.
Traveling from the star Merak to Theta Ursa Major, you can sequentially consider both the Broken Wedding Ring and the Spade. Picture: Stellarium
The diameter of the asterism is 1° or two apparent diameters of the Moon. It is best to observe the Shovel in its entirety, of course, through binoculars, but it also looks quite good in a telescope with a wide field of view.
Another memorable and very easy to see asterism is close to Mizar and Alcor. We have named this asterism "Pistol", referring to the dispenser pistol handle; English-speaking observers call it Gas Pump Handle - the meaning is preserved.
Asterism The pistol is in the handle of the Big Dipper between Mizar and Benetnash. Picture: Stellarium
The basis of the asterism is formed by four stars of the 6th and 7th stars. led., forming an irregular parallelogram. The brightest of these stars, 82 Ursa Major, is visible outside the city at the limit of visibility even with the naked eye, so finding a parallelogram with binoculars will not be difficult.
Now the most interesting: above the star 82 Ursa Major you will see two more stars 7 m. This is the nose of the gun, where the space fuel comes from. Where is the lever? Inside the parallelogram! It is formed by a chain of stars 9 m - 11 m, coming from 82 Ursa Major.
With some imagination, the tanker's pistol is quite easily recognizable in this star pattern. Picture: DSS2/Greater Universe
You will see the pistol lever clearly only in a dark sky in an instrument with a lens larger than 70 mm, but the main pattern is perfectly visible already in 50 mm prism binoculars.
By the way, pay attention to the star HD 118668, which is part of this asterism. It is a distant red giant located at least 1000 light years away. years from Earth! In addition, there are suspicions that it changes its brilliance within 1.5 m.
The last, fifth in a row, asterism known in Ursa Major can be observed with the naked eye. It's called "Horse and Rider" and represents two closely spaced stars, Mizar and Alcor. But it will be discussed below, in the section on double and multiple stars.
Double and multiple stars in Ursa Major
There are a huge number of double stars in the constellation Ursa Major, but not all of them are of interest to a simple amateur astronomer. Most of them are either too faint to make a proper impression, or too close for small telescopes.
Orbits of close binary stars ι Ursa Major and Dubhe (α constellation). Source: Burnham's Celestial Handbook
On the other hand, Ursa Major has probably the most famous visual double in the entire sky. And Mizar himself is just a reference double star that every owner of a telescope should see! Let's start with this couple.
Mizar and Alcor
Mizar- the second star, if you count from the end of the handle of the Big Dipper. It is located on the bend of the handle, so it is incredibly easy to find it. You will not confuse Mizar with neighboring stars also because it has a satellite - a faintly luminous star 4 m, which Arab astronomers gave the name Alcor. Traditionally, Mizar is translated from Arabic as "Belt" or "Sash", and Alcor as "Weak" (from the word Al Khawwar), but we used to call them the Horse and the Rider. This well-known name is not a translation of their names - this is how Europeans called a couple in the Middle Ages. In fact, Mizar and Alcor - Horse and Rider - this is another fifth asterism of Ursa Major.
A pair of stars, Mizar and Alcor, mark the bend in the handle of the Big Dipper. Picture: Stellarium
Outside the city on a dark night, Mizar and Alcor are perfectly visible - in the old days, many peoples checked the sharpness of their eyes using this pair. But today it can be difficult to check your eyesight in this way: in Moscow and other large cities, Alcor is simply not visible due to strong illumination!
But Mizar and Alcor are simply an incredible beauty of the sight, if you look at them through a telescope. Look at the pair first using the lowest magnification. First, pay attention to the color of the stars: it is white with a slight blue tint. Next, take a look at your surroundings: a few other fairly bright stars serve as a nice backdrop. Finally, take a closer look at Mizar. You will find that it consists of two closely spaced stars! .. Amazing picture!
Mizar and Alcor. A photo: DSS2
Mizar and Alcor are separated in our sky by 12 arc minutes - almost a third of the lunar disk. In reality, the distance between the stars is almost a quarter of a light year. For a long time, there were discussions in the scientific community whether this couple is physically connected or not. The point was put in 2009, when astronomers at the University of Rochester made more accurate measurements and showed that both stars are part of a physically connected system consisting of ... 6 stars! It turns out that both components of Mizar and Alcor itself - all three stars are double! Mizar A and Mizar B are spectral binaries; the components in these systems are so close to each other that they cannot be separated in any telescope. Alcor has a companion, a dim red dwarf, at a distance of 1″ - it was discovered on images in 2009.
ξ Ursa Major
This is perhaps the most notable double star in Ursa Major after Mizar. It can be found on one of the hind legs of the Bear, south of the other bright stars of this constellation.
Xi Ursa Major is the southernmost star in the constellation visible to the naked eye. Picture: Stellarium
Xi Ursa Major interesting because it is the first binary star for which an orbit was calculated and the period of revolution was reliably determined. It happened back in 1830! Since then, the stars have orbited their common center of mass three times, allowing astronomers to refine their orbit and period, which is now thought to be 59.878 years.
Orbit ξ Ursa Major. The dots mark the position of the satellite star in different years. Source: James Mullaney. Double and Multiple Stars and How to Observe Them
Both components are very similar in their characteristics to the Sun. The main star with a magnitude of 4.41 m is separated from the companion of 4.87 m at a distance of 2.5″, which makes it possible to separate the pair into telescopes with a lens over 80 mm. Spectral studies have shown that each of the components, in turn, is a double star. The companions are cool red dwarfs of class M, but there is no exact information about these stars. Finally, in 2012, another component of the system was discovered - a distant brown dwarf of spectral type T.
Thus, we have another complex system, consisting of 5 luminaries! It is located at a distance of 29 light years from Earth.
σ² Ursa Major
Another interesting double star - sigma² Ursa Major located to the right of the bucket. The brightness of σ² is 4.80 m - it is quite visible to the naked eye in the suburban sky. The color of the star is white with a yellowish tint. Together with the star σ¹, it makes up a wide pair of stars, comparable to Mizar and Alcor, but, of course, not as bright and noticeable. This is an optical double star, that is, its components are not physically connected to each other, are located at different distances from the Earth and ended up in the same part of the sky quite by accident.
The star sigma2 Ursa Major is located in the sky next to the famous pair of galaxies M81 and M82. Once you've had your fill of the distant stellar islands, point your telescope at the double star and view it at high magnification! A photo: DSS2
Together with the star ρ Ursa Major, the pair forms a small isosceles triangle. On ancient maps, the ears of the Bear were depicted in this place. Explore the area with binoculars, and then examine the star σ² separately through a telescope.
At high magnification, you will notice that sigma² consists of two stars - a companion with a magnitude of 8.3 m is located at a distance of 4 "from the main star. The pair was discovered by Sir William Herschel in 1783, and the positions of the components have been measured since 1832, when Vasily Struve examined the star. As observations have shown, the period of revolution in this system is about 1100 years! The stars passed the periastron in the first half of the 20th century and are now moving away from each other. The angular distance between the components is slowly growing and will continue to grow for another 200 years!
Orbit of the double star σ² Ursa Major. The dots mark the position of the satellite star in different years based on a 700-year period. Source: Robert Burnham's Celestial Handbook
The distance to this pair is 66 light years. This means that the main star is 5 times brighter than the Sun, and its companion is 5 times dimmer. Apparently, σ² B is a typical orange dwarf.
Below is a list of interesting double stars in Ursa Major. For stars, the coordinates, the brightness of the components, the angular distance between the components, and the period of revolution, if known, are given.
List of double and multiple stars in Ursa Major
| Star | α (2000) | δ (2000) | V | Angular dist. | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ι B. Ursa | 08h 59 min | +48° 02" | 3.1m + 10.2m | 2,0" | 817.9 years | B - double 0.2" |
| Σ 1280 | 08 56 | +70 48 | 7,5 + 7,5 | 1,9 | ||
| σ² B. Ursa | 09 10 | +67 08 | 4,8 + 8,2 + 9,3 | 4,5; 205 | 1100 | |
| τ B. Ursa | 09 11 | +63 30 | 4,7 + 10,5 | 57,1 | optical dv. | |
| Σ 1321 | 09 14 | +52 41 | 7,6 + 7,7 | 17 | 975 | |
| 23 B. Ursa | 09 32 | +63 04 | 3,7 + 8,9 | 22,9 | ||
| φ B. Ursa | 09 52 | +54 04 | 5,3 + 5,4 | 0,3 | close couple | |
| Σ 1495 | 11 00 | +58 54 | 7,2 + 9,5 | 34 | ||
| α B. Ursa | 11 04 | +61 45 | 1,9 + 4,8 + 7,0 | 0,7; 378 | 44,7 | close couple |
| ξ B. Ursa | 11 18 | +31 32 | 4,4 + 4,9 | 1,8 | 59,878 | 5 times |
| ν B. Ursa | 11 19 | +33 06 | 3,5 + 9,9 | 7,2 | ||
| 57 B. Ursa | 11 29 | +39 20 | 5,3 + 8,3 | 5,4 | ||
| ΟΣ 235 | 11 32 | +61 05 | 5,8 + 7,1 | 0,7 | 73 | |
| Σ 1561 | 11 39 | +45 07 | 6,3 + 8,4 + 8,5 | 9; 85 | ||
| 65 B. Ursa | 11 55 | +46 29 | 6,7 + 8,3 + 6,5 | 4,63 | triple | |
| 78 B. Ursa | 13 01 | +56 22 | 5,0 + 7,4 | 1,5 | 115 | |
| ζ B. Ursa | 13 24 | +54 56 | 2,3 + 4,0 | 14,4 | Mizar; 4-fold system | |
| 80 B. Ursa | 4,0 | 708,7 | Alcor; cn. double |
variable stars
The choice of variable stars in Ursa Major is huge: in the database on the AAVSO website, there are more than 2800 variable stars in this constellation! The bad news is that almost all of them are quite dim - you need a good telescope to study them.
Of those stars that can be observed with rather modest amateur means, we single out three: W, R and VY Ursa Major. The first star belongs to the eclipsing variable stars, R Ursa Major is a long-period variable or Mirida, and the third, VY Ursa Major, belongs to semiregular variables.
W Ursa Major
Especially interesting is the star W Ursa Major. It belongs to the type of so-called eclipsing variables. The well-known "devil's star", Algol, belongs to the same type, but W Ursa Major is a much more extreme example of this kind of stars.
See for yourself. Like all eclipsing variables, W Ursa Major is a double star. The components that make up this system are very similar in their characteristics to our Sun, but are located so close to each other that, under the influence of mutual attraction, they changed their usual spherical shape and turned into elongated ellipsoids. Moreover, both stars filled the so-called Roche lobe and touch each other at one of the Lagrangian points! Circling around a common center of mass, these two melon-shaped luminaries are always turned to each other with "sharp" sides, exchanging matter.
During the revolution, the stars W of the Big Dipper turn to the Earth either with a narrower or with a wider part. This also leads to a change in the amount of light coming in our direction, which is expressed in a drop in the brightness of the star from 7.8 m to 8.6 m. The most incredible thing about this system is the period of revolution of the components: it is only 8 hours or 0.33 Earth days! This means that the entire cycle can, in principle, be tracked within one night!
You can observe Ursa Major W with binoculars or a telescope. The star is located just below Upsilon Ursa Major, almost halfway to the star Theta.
W of the Big Dipper is located between the body and the front paw of the celestial beast. Picture: Stellarium/Big Universe
After identifying a star in the sky, you may want to verify its variability and maybe even start serious research. Below is a map of the vicinity of Ursa Major W, on which the brightness of comparison stars is marked with numbers. (80 means magnitude 8.0 m, etc.) Note that the image on the map is inverted, as in a reflecting telescope. To use it with binoculars, rotate it 180 degrees.
Map of the vicinity of Ursa Major W with comparison stars.
There are many different constellations. Some of them are known to all. Only a small part of people know about others. But there is a cluster of night luminaries, which is known to absolutely everyone. This article will look at how Ursa Major and Malaya are located. Constellations are characterized by a large number of legends. And some of them will also be told. We should also talk about the most famous and brightest luminaries that can be seen in this fairly popular cluster.
The night sky always attracts attention
Starry sky, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Andromeda, Southern Cross… What could be more beautiful and majestic? Millions of stars shine and sparkle, luring inquiring minds to themselves. Man has always searched for his place in the universe, wondering how the world works, where his place is in it, whether he was created by the gods or he himself is a divine entity. Sitting by the fire at night and looking into the distant sky, people learned one simple truth - the stars are not ugly scattered across the sky. They have their legal place.
Every night the stars remained the same, in the same place. Today, any adult knows that the stars are located at different distances from the earth. But, looking at the sky, we cannot tell which luminaries are located further and which are closer. Our ancestors could distinguish them only by the brightness of the glow. They singled out a small fraction of the brightest luminaries, formed a group of stars into characteristic figures, calling them constellations. In modern astrology, 88 constellations are distinguished in the starry sky. Our ancestors knew no more than 50.
The constellations were called differently, associating them with the names of objects (Libra, Southern Cross, Triangle). The luminaries were given the names of the heroes of Greek myths (Andromeda, Perseus Cassiopeia), the Stars were named after real or non-existent animals (Leo, Dragon, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor). In ancient times, people fully showed their imagination, approaching the issue of naming celestial bodies thoroughly. And there is nothing strange in the fact that the names have not changed to this day.
Stars in the Bucket Cluster
The constellation Ursa Major and Ursa Minor in the starry sky are rightfully considered the most famous and recognizable of the cluster of stars. As we know from childhood, the stars of the Big Dipper make up a bucket in the sky - luminaries of a recognizable shape and with a well-established name. Such a cluster of nocturnal, celestial bodies rightfully has the third place in terms of its size. In the first positions are such constellations as Virgo and Hydra. In total, there are 125 stars in the Big Dipper. All of them can be seen with the naked eye. The bucket forms seven of the brightest stars. Each of them has its own name.
Let's turn our attention to the constellation Ursa Major. The world of space without it is already impossible to imagine. The stars in this cluster include:
- Dubhe means "bear" in translation. This is the brightest star in Ursa Major.
- Merak is the second brightest star. It translates as "loin".
- Fekda - in translation means "thigh".
- Megrets - translated as "the beginning of the tail."
- Aliot - in translation means "fat tail".
- Mizar - translates as "loincloth".
- Benetnash - literally translated as "the leader of the mourners."
This is only a part of the stars that make up the famous cluster.
The movement of the constellation in the sky
Finding the constellation Ursa Major and Ursa Minor in the sky is quite easy. It is best seen in March and April. On crisp spring nights, we can spot the Big Dipper right overhead. The luminaries are high in the sky. However, after the first half of April, the cluster of celestial bodies retreats to the west. During the summer months, the constellation moves slowly to the northwest. And at the end of August you can see the bucket very low in the north. It will remain there until the winter. During the winter period, Ursa Major will again rise above the horizon, starting anew its movement from north to northeast.
Change depending on the time of day
Concentrate on how the location of the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor changes throughout the day. For example, in February, at night, we see a bucket with the handle down, located in the northeast, and in the morning the constellation will move to the northwest. The handle will swing up.
Interestingly, the five stars inside the bucket form one group and move separately from the other two stars. Dubhe and Benetnash are slowly leaving in the opposite direction from the other five luminaries. It follows that in the near future the bucket will take on a completely different look. But we will not see this, since a significant change will become noticeable in about a hundred thousand years.
The secret of the stars Mizar and Alcor
In the cluster of luminaries Ursa Major there is a fascinating star couple - Mizar and Alcor. Why is she interesting? In ancient times, these two stars were used to test the sharpness of human vision. Mizar is a medium-sized star, in the bucket of Ursa Major. Next to it is the barely visible star Alcor. A person with good eyesight will see these two stars without any problems, and vice versa, a person with poor eyesight will not distinguish two stars in the sky. They will appear to him as one bright point in the sky. But these two stars are fraught with a couple of amazing mysteries.
The naked eye does not see the features inherent in them. If you point the telescope at Mizar, you can see two stars instead of one. They were conditionally designated Mizar A and Mizar B. But that's not all. When it turned out that Mizar A consists of two stars, and Mizar B - of three. Unfortunately, these nocturnal luminaries are so far from the earth that no optical device is able to reach them in order to fully reveal the secret.
Stars from the Ursa Minor Cluster
Two stars in the wall of the bucket are also called Pointers. Merak and Dubhe got this name because, having drawn a straight line through them, we rest against the polar star from the constellation Ursa Minor. This cluster of night luminaries is also called circumpolar. The list of stars in the constellation Ursa Minor includes 25 names. They can be seen with the naked eye. It is necessary to single out those that are popular. In addition, they are the brightest.
Star Kokhab. In the period from 3000 BC to 600 AD, this luminary, which includes the constellation Ursa Minor, acted as a guide for sailors. The polar star indicates the direction of the North Pole. Ferkad and Yildun are also well-known luminaries of the cluster.
For a long time there was no common name
The constellation Ursa Minor is shaped like a bucket - almost like the Big Dipper. The Phoenicians, one of the best navigators of ancient times, used a similar cluster of stars for navigational purposes. But the Greek sailors were more guided by the Big Dipper. The Arabs saw a rider in Ursa Minor, the Indians - a monkey that clings to the center of the world with its tail and circles around it. As you can see, there was no generally accepted meaning and name for a long time, and each nation saw something of its own in the starry sky, close and easily explained. What else can the constellation Ursa Major tell about itself?
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 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.
The legend of a small cluster of stars
There is a legend of the constellation Ursa Minor. It looks like this. Saving his son Zeus from his father, the Greek god Kronos, who was famous for devouring his children, his wife Rhea stole a small child and took it to the caves. In addition to the goat, the baby was fed by two nymphs - Melissa and Helis. For this they were awarded. Zeus, when he became the ruler of the heavens, turned them into bears and placed them in the sky.
The legend of the appearance of the constellation according to storytellers from Greenland
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 was even 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. There was always a lot of food in his house, 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 of the sea depths, the goddess Arnarkuachssak. 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 ladle into the sky, where he, clinging to something, remained hanging.
A touching story of good and evil
There is another extraordinarily touching legend in which the constellation Ursa Major and Ursa Minor are affected. In the distant, distant times, among the hills and ravines, there was an ordinary village. A large family lived in this settlement, and their daughter Aina grew up in it. There was no one kinder than this girl in the district. One morning, on the road leading to the village, a dark cart appeared. Black horses were in harness. A man was sitting on the cart, and his clothes were dark in color. He smiled broadly, had fun and sometimes laughed. On the cart was a dark cage, in which, chained, was a white bear cub. Huge tears rolled from the eyes of the animal. Many villagers began to resent: isn't it a shame for such a big dark man to keep a small white bear cub on a chain, torturing and mocking him. Although people were indignant, the matter did not go beyond words.
And only when the cart came up to the house where Aina lived, the kind girl stopped her. Aina asked to let the bear cub go. The stranger laughed and said that he would let go if someone would give the bear cub their eyes. None of the residents even thought to do this, except for Aina. The black man agreed to let the bear cub go in exchange for the girl's eyes. And Aina lost her sight. The polar bear came out of the cage and the tears from his eyes stopped flowing. The cart, along with the horses and the black man, melted into the air, and the white bear cub remained in its place. He approached Aina, who was crying, gave her a rope tied to his collar, and led the girl through the fields and meadows. The villagers watching them saw how the white bear cub turns into the Big Dipper, and Aina turns into a small white bear cub, and together they go into the sky. Since that time, people see them walking together in the sky. They are always in the sky and remind people of good and evil. This instructive legend is famous for the constellation Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.
Due to progress, the halo of mystery has disappeared
Both in ancient times and at the present time, the constellations help us navigate in space. Travelers and sailors can tell the time by the brightness and location of the constellations, find the direction of movement, etc. Now we rarely sit by the fire, less often look at the mysterious star-studded sky, and we no longer compose legends about Ursa Major and Minor, Cassiopeia, Hounds of the Dogs. Few people can immediately show the constellation Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. We know from the lessons of astronomy that the stars are very far away, and this is in most of the planet, similar to our Sun.
The development of optical telescopes led to a number of discoveries that our ancestors did not know anything about. What can I say, a man was even able to visit the moon, take samples and successfully return back. Science has blown away that veil of obscurity and mystery, which for many centuries covered the heavenly bodies. And all the same, we furtively look into the sky, looking for this or that constellation, and we see in them not cold stars, but a white Bear cub or a formidable Lion, or Cancer, crawling across the heavenly surface. Therefore, many people like to admire the night sky clear of clouds, on which a variety of luminaries, their combinations with each other and clusters are clearly visible.
Conclusion
In this review, the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor were considered. It is easy to find them in the sky. And, most likely, everyone at one time tried to do this. And some even now, looking at the sky at night, are trying to determine the location of the bucket.
We hope that this review told you a lot about this well-known cluster: what the constellation Ursa Major and Ursa Minor looks like, what stars are included in it, what legends it is characterized by, etc.
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 of the sea depths, the goddess Arnarkuachssak. 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 ladle 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 "the 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
Near 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 the 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 star systems closest to the 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. For 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-episode novella "Fist of the North Star: A 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 the “Elk 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).
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. title | 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) |
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| meteor showers |
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| neighboring constellations |
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| The constellation is visible at latitudes from +90° to -16°. The best time to watch is March. |
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Detailed description
The constellation Ursa Major is located in the northern hemisphere of the starry sky.. People have known it for thousands of years. The astronomers of Egypt, Babylon, China and Ancient Greece knew him. 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:
- Dubhe (Alpha Ursa Major), the name comes from the Arabic expression - "the back of a big bear."
- Merak (β) - from Arabic "loin" or "groin"..
- Fekda (γ) - "thigh".
- Megrets (δ) - "base of the tail". It is the dimmest star among the stars of the Big Dipper.
- Aliot (ε) - "fat tail". The brightest star in this constellation.
- 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).
- 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 is a multiple star. That is, several stars from the Earth are seen as one due to the close distance 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 a black hole. The other two stars are Main Sequence stars, 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 vast space it does not make the proper 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 the Earth, with the naked eye, only a large bright dot and a small one, which is 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, the literal translation means "the 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:
- Alula North South (ν and ξ),
- Taniya North and South (λ and μ),
- 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 astronomy enthusiasts 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 takes 72nd place 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 at the beginning of the 21st 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. It is a yellow dwarf, and its planetary system is very similar to our 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 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, it is most difficult to find the Big Dipper in the sky in the summer, during the period of 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 that system of constellations, which was borrowed from them by 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"
The astronomers of 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". The Hindus also attached great importance to 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 more. 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 the bright stars of 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 80 mm. 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 Bucket 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, an open 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.
"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 for you will always remain a scattering of luminous points ..."
"Astronomy is currently not a compulsory subject at school and is taught as an elective...
Sergey Ov
Rice. one Constellation Ursa Major, diagram
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), the stars Kaffa (Megrets, δ UMa), Muscida (ο UMa), Al Khaud (θ UMa) are added and suggesting pairing Alula Borealis (ν UMa), Tania Australis (μ UMa), Talita (Borealis - ι UMa, Australis - κ UMa).
It is noteworthy that paired stars form the asterism "Gazelle Races" 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 distinguished seven bright stars that form a schematic drawing of a 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, and received from different peoples - this is a chain of stars (starting from the handle and ending with the ladle of the ladle). All stars used to build the Big Dipper diagram are navigation stars.
A list of more than 230 stars of 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 Polar 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" view 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 Major | ε UMa | 12 h 54 m 01.63 s | +55° 57′ 35.4″ | 1,76 | 81 | A0p | Alioth; possibly has a brown dwarf component |
| Alpha Ursa Major | αUMa | 11 h 03 m 43.84 s | +61° 45′ 04.0″ | 1,81 | 124 | F7V comp | Dubhe (Dubhe, Dubh, Dubb, Thahr al Dub al Akbar, Ak) |
| This Big Dipper | η UMa | 13 h 47 m 32.55 s | +49° 18′ 47.9″ | 1,85 | 101 | B3V SB | Benetnash (Alkaid, Elkeid, Benetnasch) |
| Zeta Ursa Major | ζ UMa | 13 h 23 m 55.42 s | +54° 55′ 31.5″ | 2,23 | 78 | A2V | Mizar (Mizar, Mizat, Mirza, Mitsar, Vasistha); multiple star; visual double star with Alcor |
| Beta Ursa Major | β UMa | 11 h 01 m 50.39 s | +56° 22′ 56.4″ | 2,34 | 79 | A1V | Merak (Merak, Mirak) |
| Gamma Ursa Major | γUMa | 11 h 53 m 49.74 s | +53° 41′ 41.0″ | 2,41 | 84 | A0VSB | Fekda, Fad (Phad, Phecda, Phegda, Phekha, Phacd) |
| Psi Ursa Major | ψ UMa | 11 h 09 m 39.86 s | +44° 29′ 54.8″ | 3,00 | 147 | K1III | Tai Tsun |
| Mu Ursa Major | μ UMa | 10 h 22 m 19.80 s | +41° 29′ 58.0″ | 3,06 | 249 | M0III SB | Tania Australis (Tania Australis, Alkafzah Australis); semiregular variable |
| Iota Ursa Major | ιUMa | 08 h 59 m 12.84 s | +48° 02′ 32.5″ | 3,12 | 48 | A7IV | Talita Borealis (Talitha Borealis, Talita Borealis, Dnoces, Alphikra Borealis); quadruple star |
| Theta Ursa Major | θUMa | 09 h 32 m 52.33 s | +51° 40′ 43.0″ | 3,17 | 44 | F6IV | Al Haud, Sarir, Sarir Bonet |
| Big Dipper Delta | δUMa | 12 h 15 m 25.45 s | +57° 01′ 57.4″ | 3,32 | 81 | A3Vvar | Kaffa, Megrez (Megrez, Kaffa) |
| Omicron Ursa Major | ο UMa | 08 h 30 m 16.03 s | +60° 43′ 06.4″ | 3,35 | 184 | G4II-III | |
| Lambda Ursa Major | λUMa | 10 h 17 m 05.93 s | +42° 54′ 52.1″ | 3,45 | 134 | A2IV | Tania Borealis (Tania Borealis, Alkafzah Borealis) |
| ν Ursa Major | ν UMa | 11 h 18 m 28.76 s | +33° 05′ 39.3″ | 3,49 | 421 | K3III SB | Alula Borealis (Alula Borealis) |
| Kappa Ursa Major | κ UMa | 09 h 03 m 37.56 s | +47° 09′ 24.0″ | 3,57 | 423 | A1Vn | Talita Australis (Talitha Australis, Al Kaprah, Alphikra Australis) |
| 23 Ursa Major | 23 Uma | 09 h 31 m 31.57 s | +63° 03′ 42.5″ | 3,65 | 75 | F0IV | |
| Chi Ursa Major | χUMa | 11 h 46 m 03.13 s | +47° 46′ 45.6″ | 3,69 | 196 | K0III | Alkafzah (Alkafzah, Alkaphrah, El Koprah) |
| Upsilon Ursa Major | υ UMa | 09 h 50 m 59.69 s | +59° 02′ 20.8″ | 3,78 | 115 | F0IV | variable of type δ Shield |
| Xi Ursa Major A | ξ UMa A | 11 h 18 m 11.24 s | +31° 31′ 50.8″ | 3,79 | 27,3 | G0V | Alula Australis (Alula Australis); double star |
| Zeta Ursa Major B | ζ UMa B | 13 h 23 m 56.40 s | +54° 55′ 18.0″ | 3,95 | |||
| Alcor | g | 13 h 25 m 13.42 s | +54° 59′ 16.8″ | 3,99 | 81 | A5VSB | Alkor (Saidak, Suha, Arundhati); visual double star with Mizar |
| Xi Ursa Major B | ξ UMa B | 11 h 18 m 11.00 s | +31° 31′ 45.0″ | 4,41 | component of the system ξ Ursa Major | ||
| 15 Ursa Major | f | 09 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 Major | d | 09 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 | K2III | Muscida (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 Major | e | 09 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 | G0V | has 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 Major | c | 09 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-IV | has 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 Major | A | 08 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 Major | π¹ | 08 h 39 m 11.74 s | +65° 01′ 14.5″ | 5,63 | 47 | G1.5Vb | Muscida |
| 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 Major | b | 08 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 | F7V | has 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 | M2V | 4th 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 | K0 | has planet b | |
| HD 68988 | 08 h 18 m 22.17 s | +61° 27′ 38.6″ | 8,21 | 192 | G0 | has planet b and unconfirmed planet c | |
| HD 80606 | 09 h 22 m 37.57 s | +50° 36′ 13.4″ | 8,93 | 190 | G5 | has 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 | K | has 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.
