Ursa Major Constellation
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Ursa Major, the great bear, is a prominent constellation best known for containing the Big Dipper asterism, which is used to locate Polaris, the North Star.
Array
Ursa Major Rise and Set Timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
| Ursa Major is always above the horizon | ||
| Sunset | 16:38 | 19° |
| Civil sunset | 17:06 | 16° |
| Moon Rise, 94.3% illuminated | 17:29 | 13° |
| Astrosession begin | 23:32 | 5° |
| Ursa Major is always above the horizon | ||
| Astrosession end | 04:14 | 37° |
| Civil sunrise | 04:44 | 41° |
| Sunrise | 05:12 | 45° |
| Moon Set | 08:24 | 72° |
| Ursa Major Transit | 09:17 | 75° |
Track Ursa Major Position Throughout the Night
← Thu, 9 October 2025 →
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
Shift the map to change the time and observe Ursa Major changing position in the night sky.
Annual motion of Ursa Major
| Date | Fri, 10 October 2025 |
| Twighlight start | 18:00 |
| Twighlight end | 03:38 |
| Twighlight duration | 10h 38m |
| Rise | Ursa Major is always up |
| Set | Ursa Major is always up |
| Elevation at transit | 75° |
| Transit time | 09:14 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 11h 24m 36s", Dec: 52° 46' 12s |
| Magnitude | - |
| Constellation |
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a Ursa Major, providing a comprehensive overview of its daily appearances and transit times throughout the year.
The graph is structured with the vertical axis showing the hours of the day, ranging from 12 AM to 12 AM the next day, while the horizontal axis spans each day of the year.
The reddish shaded area indicates the periods when the Ursa Major is above the horizon, visible to observers. The white line marks the times when the celestial object reaches its highest point in the sky each day, known as the transit.
The graph is structured with the vertical axis showing the hours of the day, ranging from 12 AM to 12 AM the next day, while the horizontal axis spans each day of the year.
The reddish shaded area indicates the periods when the Ursa Major is above the horizon, visible to observers. The white line marks the times when the celestial object reaches its highest point in the sky each day, known as the transit.
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for defining and standardizing the official constellation boundaries, which provide a consistent framework for celestial mapping.
Special thanks to Sky & Telescope Magazine and contributors Roger Sinnott and Rick Fienberg for their collaboration in producing the charts and tables. The constellation patterns, drawn by Alan MacRobert, were influenced by the work of H. A. Rey and thoughtfully adjusted to align with earlier traditions.