The Ursa Major constellation
UMa · Catalogue stars: 39
Why this name?
According to one Greek myth, this is Callisto, who was turned into a bear and then placed in the sky. The famous Big Dipper forms only part of the great celestial animal.
A little history
Homer mentions Ursa Major. Different cultures saw a wagon, a dipper and other figures in its seven bright stars; the international name preserves the image of a bear.
Data
- IAU code
- UMa
- Catalogue stars
- 39
- Messier objects
- 7
- Brightest star
- Alioth · 1.8ᵐ
Messier objects
Stars
- Aliothstar · 1.8ᵐ
- Dubhestar · 1.8ᵐ
- Alkaidstar · 1.9ᵐ
- Mizarstar · 2.2ᵐ
- Merakstar · 2.3ᵐ
- Phecdastar · 2.4ᵐ
- Tania Australisstar · 3.1ᵐ
- Talithastar · 3.1ᵐ
- Megrezstar · 3.3ᵐ
- Muscidastar · 3.4ᵐ
- Tania Borealisstar · 3.5ᵐ
- Alula Borealisstar · 3.5ᵐ
- Alkaphrahstar · 3.6ᵐ
- Taiyangshoustar · 3.7ᵐ
- Alcorstar · 4.0ᵐ
- Alula Australisstar · 4.3ᵐ
- Alula Australis Bstar · 4.8ᵐ
Stars (HIP)
- HIP 54539 · 3.0ᵐ · K1III
- HIP 46853 · 3.2ᵐ · F6IV
- HIP 46733 · 3.6ᵐ · F0IV
- HIP 48319 · 3.8ᵐ · F0IV
- HIP 0 · 4.0ᵐ · A1 m
- HIP 44901 · 4.5ᵐ · Am
- HIP 47006 · 4.5ᵐ · A2V
- HIP 46977 · 4.5ᵐ · G4III-IV
- HIP 48402 · 4.5ᵐ · A3IV
- HIP 42527 · 4.6ᵐ · K2III
- HIP 66738 · 4.6ᵐ · M2IIIvar
- HIP 53295 · 4.7ᵐ · A1Vs
- HIP 45075 · 4.7ᵐ · Am
- HIP 51658 · 4.7ᵐ · A7IV
- HIP 44390 · 4.7ᵐ · M3III
- HIP 55266 · 4.8ᵐ · A2V
- HIP 45038 · 4.8ᵐ · F7IV-V
- HIP 45493 · 4.8ᵐ · A5V
- HIP 51459 · 4.8ᵐ · F8V
- HIP 63503 · 4.9ᵐ · F2V
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | 81° · never sets | — |
| +55° | 86° · never sets | — |
| +45° | 84° · never sets | — |
| +30° | 69° | 27° |
| 0° | 39° | 39° |
| −35° | 4° | 19° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 03:02 |
| February | 00:54 |
| March | 23:09 |
| April | 21:16 |
| May | 19:21 |
| June | 17:15 |
| July | 15:11 |
| August | 13:10 |
| September | 11:17 |
| October | 09:28 |
| November | 07:28 |
| December | 05:19 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.
Neighbouring constellations
In brief
Which is the brightest star in Ursa Major?
Alioth — 1.8ᵐ.