The Great Bear
Ursa Major
Genitive: Ursae Majoris · abbreviation UMa
Best evening month
April
Visible from
42°S to 90°N
Centre RA
11h 00m 00s
Centre Dec
+48° 00′
In your sky
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Mythology & origin
The nymph Callisto, turned into a bear and set in the sky by Zeus. Its seven brightest stars form the Big Dipper (Plough), whose pointers lead to Polaris.
Ptolemy · Almagest, 2nd century AD
Brightest stars
- mag 1.76
Alioth
ε Ursae Majoris · HIP 62956
- mag 1.81
Dubhe
α Ursae Majoris · HIP 54061
- mag 1.85
Alkaid
η Ursae Majoris · HIP 67301
- mag 2.23
Mizar
ζ Ursae Majoris · HIP 65378
- mag 2.34
Merak
β Ursae Majoris · HIP 53910
- mag 2.41
Phecda
γ Ursae Majoris · HIP 58001
- mag 3.00
ψ Ursae Majoris
HIP 54539
- mag 3.06
Tania Australis
μ Ursae Majoris · HIP 50801
- mag 3.12
Talitha
ι Ursae Majoris · HIP 44127
- mag 3.17
θ Ursae Majoris
HIP 46853