Ursa MajorConstellation:

The Great Bear

Ursa Major Ursae Majoris

Abbreviation Uma On meridian 9pm April 20

Ursa Major Best-known (with possible exception of

Orion) Third-largest Asterism

Big Dipper (US/Canada) Plough (UK/Ireland) 1st, 2nd, & 3rd leap (Arab culture)

Ursa Major Part of our cultural and literary history

Noted by Homer, Spenser, Shakespeare, Tennyson

Mentioned in Finnish Kalevala

Ursa Major Van Gogh’s Starry Night Over the Rhone

Ursa Major Flag of Alaska

8 stars – Ursa Major & Polaris Designed 1927 by 13-year-old Benny Benson

Ursa Major Often seen as bear

Greek Kallisto Greek αρκτος “bear” – origin of word arctic

Jewish culture One of few star groups mentioned in Bible

Iroquois Native Americans Alioth, Mizar, Alkaid are hunters pursuing Great Bear Housatonic said bear’s falling blood colored leaves in

autumn

Ursa Major Other interpretations

Egyptians – thigh of bull China – Tseh Sing “the government” Europe – wagon or chariot

Identified with Arthur Some say stars revolving around Polaris origin of

Round Table

Ursa Major Notable stars

Dubhe (a UMa) Arabic for “bear”

Merak (β UMa) Arabic for “flank” (of bear)

Phecda (γ) “thigh”

Megrez (δ) “root of tail”

North Star Polaris

αUMi – Alpha Ursae Minoris Greek Cynosura (Κυνόσουρα)

“tail of the dog” cynosure: something that guides

or center of attention ½° degree from NCP classical Population I Cepheid

highly studied

Ursa Major Messier 81 (M81)/NGC 3031

One of sky’s brightest galaxies

Ursa Major Messier 81 & 82

Ursa Major