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Sky-Tonight.com / Constellations / Ursa Major
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Observation Settings

Or select it on the map:
This Earth map fragment is intended to illustrate celestial motion across the sky, emphasizing both bearing and elevational perspectives. The map's center point corresponds to the transit, showcasing celestial objects at their highest point, while elevation gradually decreases towards the map edges. This dynamic representation offers insights into the changing positions of celestial bodies with a focus on their bearing and elevational trajectories.
Your location: Columbus, United States
Timezone:
Latitude:
39.9625
Longitude:
-83.0061

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.

Ursa Major (The Great Bear)

Ursa Major, or "The Great Bear," is one of the most famous and easily recognizable constellations in the night sky. It is a prominent northern constellation known for its distinctive asterism, the Big Dipper. This constellation has been important in navigation, mythology, and astronomy throughout human history.

Key Features

  • Bright Stars: Ursa Major is home to several bright stars that form its distinctive shape:
    • Dubhe: The brightest star in the constellation, marking the bear's back.
    • Merak: Forms one of the pointers to Polaris, the North Star.
    • Alkaid: Marks the tip of the bear's tail.
    • Mizar and Alcor: A famous naked-eye double star in the handle of the Big Dipper.
  • Deep-Sky Objects: Ursa Major is rich in galaxies and other astronomical wonders:
    • Messier 81 (Bode’s Galaxy): A bright spiral galaxy located about 12 million light-years away.
    • Messier 82 (Cigar Galaxy): A starburst galaxy near M81.
    • Messier 101 (Pinwheel Galaxy): A face-on spiral galaxy with intricate structure.
    • NGC 3077: An irregular galaxy in the same region.

Mythological Background

In Greek mythology, Ursa Major is often associated with Callisto, a nymph who was transformed into a bear by Zeus to protect her from Hera's jealousy. Later, Callisto's son, Arcas, nearly hunted her, but Zeus intervened and placed them both in the sky as Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.

Many cultures have their own interpretations of this constellation. For example, in Native American mythology, it is seen as a bear being chased by three hunters. In Hindu mythology, it represents the seven sages or "Saptarishi."

Cultural Significance

Ursa Major has been crucial for navigation due to the Big Dipper asterism. The two stars Dubhe and Merak, known as the "Pointer Stars," lead directly to Polaris, the North Star. This made the constellation an essential tool for explorers and sailors in the Northern Hemisphere.

The constellation is also associated with the changing seasons. Its visibility shifts throughout the year, making it an important marker in various cultural calendars.

Ursa Major Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
Ursa Major is always above the horizon
Moon Rise, 15.8% illuminated09:214°
Ursa Major Transit20:2177°
Sunset20:5276°
Civil sunset21:2573°
Astrosession begin22:0568°
Ursa Major is always above the horizon
Moon Set00:5143°
Astrosession end04:5313°
Civil sunrise05:339°
Sunrise06:077°

Track Ursa Major Position Throughout the Night

← Sat, 31 May 2025 →

Elevation (degrees)
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

Time
DateSat, 31 May 2025
Twighlight start22:47
Twighlight end04:02
Twighlight duration5h 15m
RiseUrsa Major is always up
SetUrsa Major is always up
Elevation at transit77°
Transit time20:17
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 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.

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.