ursa major

     

Ursa Major (pronounce /ˌɝsəˈmeɪdʒɚ/) is a constellation visible throughout the year in most of the northern hemisphere. Its name means Great Bear in Latin, and is associated with the legends of Callisto and Cynosura.

Trivia about ursa major

  • The Big Dipper is part of this constellation
  • This constellation is known as the "Great Bear"
  • It's thought Egyptians used this Big Dipper constellation to set compass bearings of the pyramids
  • Arcturus is known as the "bear watcher" because it follows this constellation around the north celestial pole
  • The handle of the Big Dipper forms the tail of this constellation, the Great Bear
  • The star Arcturus is known as the "bear guard" because it guards this constellation
  • Big bear
  • (Jimmy of the Clue Crew shows a constellation on the monitor.) Look for the Big Dipper to find this third largest constellation: the handle forms its tail; other stars form its paws
  • A line drawn from Merak to Dubhe in this constellation points to Polaris, the North Star
  • To an astronomer UMa is an abbreviation for this constellation

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