Who discovered the constellation Ursa Major. The brightest star in the constellation Ursa Major add your price to the comment base. Nu and Xi Ursa Major - "first jump"

Ursa Major (lat. Ursa Major) is a constellation in the northern hemisphere of the sky. The seven stars of Ursa Major make up a figure resembling a ladle with a handle. The two brightest stars, Aliot and Dubhe, have magnitudes of 1.8 apparent magnitudes. According to the two extreme stars of this figure (α and β), you can find the Polar Star. The best visibility conditions are in March-April. It can be seen throughout Russia all year round (with the exception of the autumn months in southern Russia, when the Big Dipper descends low to the horizon).

Short description

Detailed description

The constellation Ursa Major is located in the northern hemisphere of the starry sky.. People have known it for thousands of years. The astronomers of Egypt, Babylon, China and Ancient Greece knew him. It was included by Claudius Ptolemy in his monograph Almagest as early as the 2nd century. And this work combined all the knowledge of astronomy at that time.

The Big Dipper is formed by the following seven stars:

1. Dubhe (Alpha Ursa Major), the name comes from the Arabic expression - "the back of a big bear."
2. Merak (β) - from Arabic "loin" or "groin"..
3. Fekda (γ) - "thigh".
4. Megrets (δ) - "base of the tail". It is the dimmest star among the stars of the Big Dipper.
5. Aliot (ε) - "fat tail". The brightest star in this constellation.
6. Mizar (ζ) - from Arabic - "belt". Near Mizar there is another star - "Alcor". It is noteworthy that the ability to distinguish between these two stars is a consequence of good vision (with myopia no more than 1 diopter).
7. Benetnash (η) or otherwise - Alkaid. The third brightest star in Ursa Major. "Al-Qaeed banat ours" is translated from Arabic as "the leader of the mourners."

As you can see, this formation includes 7 stars. If you connect them with a straight line, you get a figure that resembles a bucket with a handle. Each star has its own name. At the top of the bucket, opposite the handle, there is a star called Dubhe. It is the second brightest among its cosmic counterparts. This is a multiple star. That is, several stars from the Earth are seen as one due to the close distance to each other.

In this case, we are dealing with 3 stars. The largest of them is a red giant. That is, the core has already lost all its reserves of hydrogen, and a thermonuclear reaction is taking place on the surface of the star. It dies, and over time should turn into a white dwarf or become a black hole. The other two stars are Main Sequence stars, that is, the same as our Sun.

On the same straight line with Dubhe, at the base of the bucket, there is a star Merak. This is a very bright light. It is 69 times brighter than our Sun, but due to the vast space it does not make the proper impression. If the straight line between Merak and Dubhe is extended towards the constellation Ursa Minor, then you can rest against the North Star. It is located at a distance that is 5 times the distance between the indicated luminaries.

The other lowest point of the bucket is called Fekda. This is a Main Sequence star. The upper point of the bucket opposite it is called Megrets. She is the dullest in a friendly company. This star is almost 1.5 times larger than our star and 14 times brighter.

There is a star at the beginning of the handle Aliot. It is the brightest in the constellation Ursa Major. Among all the visible stars in the sky, it ranks 33rd in brightness. From the end of the handle, it is the third in a row, and the second is a star. Mizar. Next to it is another luminary, which is called Alcor. Anyone with good eyesight can see it. They say that in ancient times, Alcor was used to test the visual acuity of young boys who aspired to become sailors. If a young man could see this star next to Mizar, then he was enlisted as a sailor.

In reality, not 2 stars, but as many as 6 shine in the space distance. These are the double stars Mizar A and Mizar B, as well as the double star Alcor. But from the Earth, with the naked eye, only a large bright dot and a small one, which is nearby, are visible. These are the surprises sometimes presented by space.

And finally, the most extreme star. It is called Benetnash or Alkaid. All these names are taken from the Arabic language. In this case, the literal translation means "the leader of the mourners." That is, the al-qaid is the leader, and our banat is the mourners. This luminary is the third brightest after Aliot and Dubhe. It ranks 35th among the brightest stars in the sky.

The brightest stars in Ursa Major

Other objects of Ursa Major

In addition to the Big Dipper, in the constellation Ursa Major, you can also observe an asterism called "Three Gazelle Jumps", which looks like three pairs of stars.

These are the following couples:

1. Alula North South (ν and ξ),
2. Taniya North and South (λ and μ),
3. Talita North and South (ι and κ).

Near Alupa Severnaya is a red dwarf called Lalande 21185, which is elusive to observe with the naked eye. However, it is the sixth closest star system to the Sun. Closer than the stars Sirius A and B.

Observational astronomers are well aware that this constellation contains the galaxy M101 (called the Pinwheel), as well as the galaxies M81 and M82. The last two form the core of what is probably the nearest group of galaxies, located at a distance of about 7 million light years. Unlike these distant objects, the astronomical body M 97 ("Owl") is located within the Milky Way, hundreds of times closer. The Owl is one of the largest planetary nebulae.

In the middle, between the first and second "gazelle jump", with the help of optics, you can see a small yellow dwarf, similar to our Sun at number 47. From 2000 to 2010, scientists discovered three exoplanets, gas giants, revolving around it. Also, this star system is one of the most similar to the solar system and ranks 72nd in the list of candidates for the search for planets similar to Earth, conducted as part of the planned NASA Terrestrial Planet Finder mission. So for an astronomy lover, the constellation is of great interest.

In 2013 and 2016, two of the most distant galaxies from us were discovered in the constellation, respectively z8 GND 5296 and GN-z11. The light of these galaxies, recorded by scientists, was 13.02 (z8 GND 5296) and 13.4 (GN-z11) billion years.

This is how you can characterize the constellation Ursa Major, known since ancient times. This space region also includes many galaxies. For example, the Pinwheel galaxy. It is better known as M 101. In size, it exceeds the Milky Way. Her detailed pictures were taken by the Hubble telescope at the beginning of the 21st century. To get to this huge cluster of stars, you need to spend 8 million light years.

The Owl Nebula is also of interest. It enters our galaxy and looks like 2 dark spots located side by side. In 1848, Lord Ross considered these spots to be like the eyes of an owl. That's where the name came from. This nebula is about 6 thousand years old, and it is located at a distance of 2300 light years from the solar system.

But the most interesting thing is that the constellation Ursa Major is considered as one of the likely sources of extraterrestrial intelligence. In this part of space there is a certain star named 47UMa. It is a yellow dwarf, and its planetary system is very similar to our solar system. At least, today 3 planets are known that revolve around this star. In 2003, a radio message was sent to him. Earthlings are persistently looking for brothers in mind, and luck always accompanies the stubborn.

How to find the Big Dipper in the sky?

If you want to learn how to navigate the starry sky, then your primary task is to be able to find the Big Dipper bucket. Although it is not far from the North Star, it is still not so close to it as to be at the same point in the sky all the time.

The Big Dipper is easiest to spot in autumn and winter. At this time, in the evenings, the asterism is located in the north, not high above the horizon and in the position we are used to.

By the end of winter, the position of Ursa Major in the evening sky changes. The seven stars of the bucket move to the east, and the Big Dipper itself stands upright on the handle.

There is nothing surprising. Recall that every day all the stars describe circles around the pole of the world, thereby reflecting the rotation of the Earth around its axis. But during the year, the stars make one more additional circle, thereby reflecting the movement of the Earth in orbit around the Sun. The stars of the Big Dipper are no exception - shifting from the bottom point, the bucket, as it were, rears up.

In the middle of spring, Ursa Major is at its zenith in the evenings, right above your head! At this time, he is in an inverted position in relation to the North Star. Her bucket faces west, and the handle of the bucket faces east.

For those who live north of Moscow, it is most difficult to find the Big Dipper in the sky in the summer, during the period of short nights. At this time, the constellation is in the west, and the bucket is tilted down and looks north.

How to find the North Star in Ursa Major?

Now let's see how to find the North Star using the Big Dipper. This is done simply. Take the two extreme stars in the bucket, Dubha and Merak (alpha and beta Ursa Major) and mentally connect them with a line. And then extend this line five times the distance Merak - Dubhe.

You will see a star whose brightness is approximately equal to the brightness of the bucket stars. This is the famous Polar Star, the "iron nail", as the Kazakhs called it, referring to the immobility of the Polar Star in the earth's sky.

Knowing the position of the North Star, you can easily navigate in space. Draw a plumb line from Polar down. The place where it intersects with the horizon will point north. The rest of the cardinal directions are easy to find: the east will be on the right, the south behind, and the west on the left. So, guided by the stars, in Russia in the Middle Ages they built roads Moscow - Yaroslavl and Moscow - Vladimir, straight as an arrow.

Secrets of the constellation Ursa Major: how different peoples saw it

Egypt "Bull's Thigh"

The ancient Egyptians were among the first astronomers in history, with some of their round stone "observatories" dating as far back as the fifth millennium BC. It was the Egyptians who laid the foundations for that system of constellations, which was borrowed from them by the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Greeks, Arabs, and then modern science. At that dizzyingly distant time, due to the precession of the earth's axis, it was not the Pole Star that pointed north, but Alpha Draconis (Tuban). Its environs, together with the nearest luminaries, were considered by the Egyptians to be the "fixed sky", the dwelling place of the gods. Instead of a ladle, the priests could see the leg of Set, the god of war and death, who turned into a bull and killed Osiris with a blow of a hoof. Falcon-headed Horus cut off his limb in retaliation for the murder of his father.

China "Emperor Shandi Carriage"

The astronomers of ancient China divided the sky into 28 vertical sectors, "houses" through which the Moon passes in its monthly journey, as the Sun in its annual rotation passes through the signs of the Zodiac in Western astrology, which borrowed the 12-sector division from the Egyptians. In the center of heaven, like the emperor in the capital of the state, the Chinese had the North Star, which had already taken its usual place by that time. The seven brightest stars of Ursa Major are in honorable proximity to it, within the Purple Fence - one of the three Fences surrounding the palace of the "royal" star. They could be described as the Northern Dipper, whose orientation corresponds to the season, or as part of the carriage of the Heavenly Emperor Shandi.

India "Seven Wise Men"

Observational astronomy in ancient India did not develop as brilliantly as, say, mathematics. Her ideas were greatly influenced by both Greece and China - for example, 27-28 "stays" (nakshatras) through which the Moon passes in about a month are very reminiscent of Chinese lunar "houses". The Hindus also attached great importance to the North Star, which, according to experts in the Vedas, is the abode of Vishnu himself. The asterism of the Bucket located under it was considered the Saptarishas - the seven sages born from the mind of Brahma, the forefathers of the world of our era (Kali Yuga) and all those living in it.

Greece "Bear"

Ursa Major is one of the 48 constellations listed in Ptolemy's star catalog around 140 BC, although it was first mentioned much earlier, in Homer. Intricate Greek myths offer different backgrounds for its appearance, although everyone agrees that the bear is the beautiful Callisto, the companion of the hunting goddess Artemis. According to one version, using his usual tricks with reincarnation, the loving Zeus seduced her, provoking the wrath of both his wife Hera and Artemis herself. Saving his mistress, the Thunderer turned her into a bear, who wandered in the mountain forests for many years, until her own son, born of Zeus, met her on a hunt. The supreme god had to intervene once again. Preventing matricide, he raised both to heaven.

America "Great Bear"

It seems that the Indians understood something about wild animals: in the legend of the Iroquois about the origin of asterism, the “heavenly bear” does not have any tail. The three stars that form the handle of the ladle are three hunters chasing the beast: Aliot draws a bow with an arrow embedded in it, Mizar carries a cauldron for cooking meat (Alcor), and Benetnash carries an armful of brushwood to kindle the hearth. In autumn, when the Bucket turns and sinks low to the horizon, the blood from the wounded bear drips down, painting the trees in variegated colors.

• The closest of the bright stars of Ursa Major– star Southern Alula or xi Ursa Major. This is a beautiful double star that can be separated into components in a telescope with a lens over 80mm. Both components are similar in their characteristics to the Sun and each of them also has a satellite - a cold red dwarf! The distance to ξ Ursa Major is 29 St. years. A little further away is the star θ - 44 light years from the Sun. Well, farthest from all the bright stars of the constellation is the red giant μ Ursa Major, one of the stars in the front "paw" of the Ursa. Its distance is 249 light years.
• The constellation Ursa Major is depicted on the flag of Alaska. On the flag of the White Sea Karelia, which was approved on June 21, 1918, the Big Bucket is depicted. Also, the flag with the image of the Big Dipper is used by Irish radical left organizations.
• Ursa Major can be admired during the day. This can easily be done by finding it on one of the interactive constellation maps. On the maps, you can find other large and small constellations and look at them in a big approximation.
• Needless to say, the huge constellation Ursa Major is a real treasure trove for a true astronomy lover?! In this area of ​​the sky there is a huge number of attractions available for observation in small telescopes: double and variable stars, several bright galaxies and dozens of weaker galaxies, an open star cluster and even a planetary nebula. There is no way to fit the descriptions of these objects into the scope of one article. Therefore, we decided to publish separate articles on observations of the sights of the Big Dipper.

The constellation of this month is familiar to any inhabitant of the Northern Hemisphere. Throughout history, Ursa Major has been an easily recognizable figure in the night sky. She seemed to be a bear, then a plow, they recognized in her both three hunters with a bear, and a bear with a cart. (Did I remember to mention that she looked like a bear? :-) In the asterism - the Big Dipper - one guesses, probably, the largest number of figures for the night sky. The bucket serves as a reference point for finding many of the constellations of the Northern Hemisphere, and in itself is an open cluster. Designated Collinder 285, or the Ursa Major Moving Group of Stars, it includes the five central stars of the Bucket and is located just 70 light-years from Earth. Cr285 is best viewed with the naked eye.

M 109 Photographer Jason Blaschka

Until we meet again
Tom T.

Description

Ursa Major is a constellation in the northern hemisphere of the sky, its seven stars make up the most famous figure in the sky. This is a bucket, which with its two extreme stars Dubhe (α Ursa Major, 1.8 m) and Merak (β Ursa Major, 2.3 m) gives direction to the Polar Star.

The brightest star is Aliot (ε Ursa Major, 1.76 m), and the most famous binary system is Mizar (ζ Ursa Major, 2.2 m) - “horse” and Alcor (80 Ursa Major, 4 m) - “rider ". It is believed that one who distinguishes between these two stars has sharp eyesight.

Two spiral galaxies M81 (7.0 m) and M101 (7.9 m) are visible in the constellation, which can be observed with a small telescope. M81 is interesting in that it is very similar to our galaxy. Nearby is a small galaxy M82, in which a strong explosion occurred just a few million years ago. This event is of great interest for astronomy, as it sheds light on the processes of formation and development of galaxies.

Another interesting object is located in Ursa Major - the planetary nebula M97 - "Owl", which got its name for its resemblance to this bird. It can be observed in a small telescope, since the total brightness of the nebula is 11m.

The most interesting objects

Star ζ Ursa Major is a system of six stars. Of these, only two - Mizar and Alcor can be seen with the naked eye. The distance between these stars is 11". Mizar is a double star that can be seen well in a small telescope. The distance between the components is 14.5". These two stars, as well as Alcor, are spectroscopic double stars. The distance of the entire system from the Sun is about 60 St. years.

Star U Ursa Major is a typical eclipsing variable whose components are in the Roche lobe. The period of brightness change is 8 hours, and the maximum brightness is 8.7 m.

χ Ursa Major- a multiple system consisting of two spectroscopic binary stars distant at a distance of 2.5 "". They revolve around a common center of mass in 60 years. The most massive pair consists of stars similar to the Sun, and the second - from the same star and an invisible satellite with a mass 10 times less than the sun. The entire system is removed from the Sun at a distance of 25 sv. years.

M40- a faint double star discovered by Charles Messier in a place where he wanted to find a nebula, erroneously described by Jan Hevelius. It is located near the star 70 Ursa Major. The system consists of two stars with magnitudes of 9.0 m and 9.3 m , separated by 49 "". The brightest star is 510 sv from the Sun. years. Most likely, this is an optical double star; its components are not physically connected, but are located close along the line of sight.

M97- planetary nebula "Owl". Has a brightness of 9.9 m. The mass of the nebula is approximately equal to 0.15 solar masses. There are about 6 thousand years. It is removed from the Sun at a distance of 12 thousand sv. years.

SU Ursa Major- a variable eruptive star of the dwarf nova type, in which two types of flares are observed. The system consists of a white dwarf surrounded by an accretion disk and a cold component of less mass. At minimum brightness, this star is no brighter than 15m. During normal outbursts, which occur every few days, the brightness increases to 12 m, and during rarer bursts - up to 10.9 m.

M81- a beautiful spiral galaxy type Sb. Brightness 6.9 m . Paired with it is the M82 galaxy - irregular in shape and weaker. Being more massive, M81 deforms its neighbor with its gravitational field. The Hubble Space Telescope made it possible to study 32 Cepheid variable stars in M81. Using this information, its distance to the Galaxy was determined - 11 million sv. years.

Spiral galaxy M81 (left) and irregular galaxy M82 (right). Composite images taken from images from the ground and from space.

M101- NGC 5457 is a spiral galaxy of type Sc, size 22 ". Brightness 7.9 m. The central part of this galaxy is visible in small telescopes. In photographs taken by large telescopes, it can be seen that it is asymmetric. The nucleus of the galaxy is significantly removed from the center of the disk. Distance to M101 was determined using Cepheids by the Hubble Space Telescope and is approximately 24 million light years.The linear diameter of the galaxy is about 170 thousand light years.In this star system, three supernovae were observed in 1909, 1951 and 1970.

Research History

In 1603 a significant event took place. The German astronomer Johann Bayer (1572-1625) published his famous atlas "Uranometry", which significantly refined the position of the stars in the sky. In it, for the first time, he designated the stars in Greek letters, including the seven bright stars of the Big Dipper Bucket from west to east along the “direction” of this star pattern. At the same time, Bayer violated the rule that the brightness of the stars must correspond to the Greek alphabet. The alpha star is the brightest, the second brightest is beta, and so on. The basis for "Uranometry" was the observations of the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe.

The most popular constellation, probably familiar to every person. It looks like a bright spectacular bucket and is observed throughout the year, as it is located near the North Pole of the world and belongs to the constellations that do not set in northern latitudes. The constellation is named after the nymph Callisto.

Observation

Ursa Major refers to those constellations whose location is well known. In fact, this constellation is the first to get acquainted, since the Ursa bucket is a very characteristic figure. To the east of Ursa Major, Perseus and Cassiopeia, clearly distinguishable, “walk” across the sky. The constellation Giraffe, adjacent to Ursa Major, does not have bright stars and is difficult to navigate. “Catches up” with the bear Bootes and its bright star Arcturus, located to the southeast.

The best visibility conditions are in March and April. The constellation is clearly visible throughout Russia.

Mythology

According to ancient myth, the eternally young goddess of the hunt, Artemis, roamed the mountains and forests with a bow and a sharp spear in search of game. Her companions and maids followed her. The girls were one more beautiful than the other, but the most charming was Callisto. When Zeus (Jupiter in Roman mythology) saw the nymph, he was struck by her beauty and youth. However, the servants of Artemis were not allowed to marry. In order to possess Callisto, Zeus went to the trick, and one night he appeared before her in the form of Artemis. Thus Zeus got his way. From Zeus, Callisto gave birth to a son, Arcadus, who quickly grew up and became an excellent hunter.

Ursa Major ... Wikipedia

Click on the image to enlarge it name Ursa Major (genus n. Ursae Majoris) Abbreviation UMa Symbol Ursa Major Right ascension ... Wikipedia

- (lat. Ursa Major) the constellation of the Northern Hemisphere, in which a group of 7 stars is distinguished Big bucket; the middle star of the bucket handle is called Mizar, next to it is the faint star Alcor ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Ursa Major), the famous constellation of the northern part of the sky, which is otherwise called the "Plow" or "Big Dipper". Its drawing is formed by seven stars. The five stars from the Plow make up a mobile CLUSTER, a group of stars that move in the same direction across... Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary

- (The Great Bear, Charles's wain, Ursa major) a vast constellation of the Northern Hemisphere; in our latitudes it is visible at all times of the year. The seven main stars are arranged in the shape of a ladle. Very noticeable in the sky and convenient for orientation. A line drawn ... ... Marine Dictionary

Exist., number of synonyms: 2 arctos (2) constellation (121) ASIS synonym dictionary. V.N. Trishin. 2013 ... Synonym dictionary

- (lat. Ursa Major) constellation of the Northern hemisphere of the sky. Seven stars of B. M. make up a figure resembling a ladle with a handle. The two brightest stars, Aliot and Dubhe, are magnitude 1.8 visual magnitudes. According to the two extreme stars of this figure α ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

- (lat. Ursa Major), the constellation of the Northern Hemisphere, in which a group of 7 stars is distinguished Big bucket; the middle star of the bucket handle is called Mizar, next to it is the faint star Alcor. * * * URSA MAJOR URSA MAJOR (lat. Ursa… … encyclopedic Dictionary

Big Dipper- The constellation of the Northern Hemisphere, in which there is a group of seven stars Big Dipper. The middle star of the handle of the Mizar bucket, next to it is the star Alcor. Seven stars of the Big Dipper shone low over the horizon (V. Garshin. From the memoirs ... ... Phraseological dictionary of the Russian literary language

- (lat. Ursa Major), the constellation Sev. hemispheres, in which a group of 7 stars is distinguished Big bucket; cf. bucket handle star Mizar, next to her is the faint star Alcor ... Natural science. encyclopedic Dictionary

Books

• Big Cart, Max Frei. "The Big Cart, or the Big Cart, - this is how some nations called the constellation Ursa Major. The concept of the book is as follows: the map of the constellation was in a certain way superimposed on the map of Europe, ...
• Big Cart, Fry Max. Max Frei's new book links geography and astronomy, earthly and heavenly. "Big Cart or, Big Cart, - this is how some nations called the constellation Ursa Major. The concept of the book ...

> Ursa Major

How to find constellation Ursa Major in the northern sky: a map of the starry sky, a description with a photo and a diagram, myth, facts, Messier objects, main stars, the Big Dipper.

Ursa Major - constellation, which is located in the northern sky and from Latin "Ursa Major" is translated as "big bear".

Ursa Major in the sky is the largest northern constellation and the third in the general list. Bright stars create an asterism recognizable by all - the Big Dipper, a photo of which can be found on the site. He was known in many cultures, so many myths were created. In the second century, Ptolemy cataloged it.

Myth, facts, position and map of the constellation Ursa Major

Ursa Major is not only a large, but also a very ancient constellation, which was mentioned by Homer in the Bible. There are so many stories and fairy tales around the world. The ancient Greeks believed that we are talking about Callisto - a beautiful nymph who took a vow of celibacy in the temple of Artemis. But Zeus fell in love with her, seduced her and her son Arkas appeared.

When Artemis found out about this, she drove Callisto away. But then the angry Hera (wife of Zeus) came into play. She was so offended by the betrayal that she turned the nymph into a bear. In this guise, the girl spent 15 years living in the forest and hiding from hunters. But Arkas grew up and one day they collided. Arkas was frightened and pulled out a spear, but Zeus managed in time and sent both of them into the sky with a whirlwind. Of course, this angered Hera even more. She asked the Ocean and Tethys not to let the bear swim in the northern waters. That is why Ursa Major never sets beyond the horizon in northern latitudes.

According to another story, the punishment came from Artemis. After many years, Callisto and Arkas are captured together and go to King Lycaon as a gift. But they escape and hide in the temple of Zeus. God saves them and sends them to heaven.

There is also a completely different myth about Adastreya. She was a nymph who took care of Zeus as an infant. His father Cronus obeyed the oracle's prediction (the child will overthrow the father) and killed all his children. But Rhea (mother) slipped a stone instead of Zeus and saved the baby. Adastraya, along with Ida, fed and looked after him, and in gratitude he sent them to heaven.

The Romans called the constellation Ursa Major "Septentrio" - "seven plows of oxen", although only two of them displayed bulls, and the rest - a cart. In the Big Dipper they saw different animals: a camel, a shark, a skunk, as well as objects: a sickle, a cart, a canoe. The Chinese name the 7 stars Qiyh Sing after the government. The Hindus had 7 wise men, and the constellation is called Saptarshi.

In some Indian tales, Ursa Major depicted a large bear, and the stars were warriors who declared a hunt for him. It drops low in autumn, so it is believed that the leaves turn red due to blood dripping from the wounds of the animal.

In late American history, the constellation represented the railroad that the slaves used to find their way north. There are many songs that the liberated sang in the south, dreaming of a new life.

Facts, position and map of the constellation Ursa Major

With an area of ​​​​1280 square degrees, the constellation Ursa Major is in third place in terms of size. Covers the second quadrant in the northern hemisphere (NQ2). Can be found in latitudes from +90° to -30°. Adjacent to , and .

The main stars of the constellation Ursa Major

You could see in the photo what the constellation Ursa Major looks like in the sky, but let's study its stars and the famous asterism.

Asterism - Big Dipper

The Big Dipper is one of the most recognizable asterisms in the night sky and has been featured in many cultures. In addition, it is also useful in navigation, because it indicates the path to the North Star, which is part of the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor).

If you follow an imaginary line from Merak to Dubhe and continue the arc, you will reach the Pole Star.

In the same way, an imaginary line leads to the bright star Arcturus (Boötes) and Spica (Virgo).

Ursa Major consists of 7 stars: Dubhe (Alpha), Merak (Beta), Fekda (Gamma), Megrets (Delta), Aliot (Epsilon), Mizar (Zeta) and Alkaid (Eta).

Aliot(Epsilon Ursa Major) is the brightest star in the constellation (A0pCr) with an apparent visual magnitude of 1.76 and a distance of 81 light years. It stands at the 31st position in brightness among all stars. The spectrum resembles a Canis Alpha-2 type variable with fluctuations in spectral lines of 5.1 days.

Included in the Ursa Major Moving Group of Stars (general speed and origin). In 1869, the group was found by the English astronomer Richard A. Proctor, who guessed that all the stars of the constellation, except for Alkaid and Dubhe, share a common regular movement, heading towards a point in the constellation Sagittarius.

The traditional name comes from the Arabic word alyat - "fat tail of a sheep" (the star is in a bear's tail).

Dubhe(Alpha Ursa Major) is a spectroscopic double star (K1 II-III) with an apparent magnitude of 1.79 and a distance of 123 light years. The companion is a main sequence star (F0 V) with an orbital period of 44.4 years at a distance of 23 AU.

At 900,000 a.u. a binary system is located from the main pair, which makes the star a four-star system.

The name comes from the Arabic dubb - "bear". Not included in the Ursa Major Moving Group of Stars.

Merak(Beta Ursa Major) is a main sequence star (A1 V) with a visual magnitude of 2.37 and a distance of 79.7 light years. There is a dusty disk that occupies 27% of the earth's mass.

The star is 2.7 times more massive than the Sun, 2.84 times larger in radius, and 68 times brighter. It is a member of the Ursa Major Moving Group of Stars and is a suspected variable star.

The name is translated from Arabic as "loins".

Alkaid(Eta Ursa Major) is a young main sequence star (B3 V) with an apparent visual magnitude of 1.85 and a distance of 101 light years. It ranks third in brightness in the constellation and 35th among all stars. It is the easternmost star in the asterism. At a surface temperature of 20,000 K, it can be seen with the naked eye. Reaches 6 solar masses and is 700 times brighter. Does not belong to the Ursa Major Moving Group of Stars.

Despite its position in brightness, Bayer named it "Eta" because he named the stars from west to east. The name is taken from the Arabic phrase qā "id bināt na" sh, which means "leader of the daughters of the pier."

Fekda(Gamma Ursa Major) is a main sequence star (A0 Ve) with a visual magnitude of 2.438 and a distance of 83.2 light years. It has a gas envelope that adds emission lines to its spectrum. Age - 300 million years. It is the lower left star in the Dipper and is 8.5 light-years distant from the Mizar-Alcor system. Refers to the Moving Group of Ursa Major.

The traditional name comes from the Arabic phrase fakhð ad-dubb, "bear's thigh".

Megrets(Delta Ursa Major) is a main sequence star (A3 V) with a visual magnitude of 3.312 and a distance of 58.4 light years. 63% more solar mass and 14 times brighter. There is an excess of infrared radiation, indicating disk debris in orbit.

Of the 7 bright stars, this is the weakest. "Megrets" is translated from Arabic as "base" (the base of the bear's tail).

Mizar(Zeta Ursa Major) - a system of two double stars, located in second place from the end. The apparent magnitude is 2.23, and the distance is 82.8 light years. Became the first photographed double star. It happened in 1857 thanks to the American photographer and inventor John A. Whipple and the astronomer George P. Bond. They used a wet collodion plate and a 15-inch refractor telescope at the Harvard College Observatory. Bond also photographed the star Vega (Lyra) in 1850.

The name comes from the Arabic mīzar - "belt".

Alcor(80 Ursa Major) - visual companion for Mizar (A5V) Both stars are sometimes referred to as "Horse and Rider". The visual magnitude is 3.99, and the distance is 81.7 light years. She is also called Suha ("forgotten") and Arundhati in India. In 2009, they found a binary system.

Belongs to the Moving group of stars Ursa Major. The distance between it and Mizar is 1.1 light years.

W Ursa Major is a binary system represented by nearby stars with an orbital period of 0.3336 days. They are so close that their outer shells are in direct contact. Periodically, they outshine each other, and reduce the brightness. The apparent magnitude of the system fluctuates between 7.75 and 8.48. Spectral class - F8V.

This is the prototype for both the W variables of Ursa Major.

Messier 40(M40, Winnecke 4, WNC 4) is a binary star with fluctuations in apparent visual magnitude from 9.55 to 10.10. Located 510 light years away. It was registered in 1764 by Charles Messier, who was looking for a nebula previously reported by Jan Hevelius. In 1863, the star was discovered by Friedrich August Theodor Winnecke.

47 Ursa Major- a main sequence star (G1V) with an apparent magnitude of 5.03 and a distance of 45.9 light years. It is a solar analogue with a similar mass, slightly hotter and reaches 110% iron.

In 1996, a planet 2.53 times the size of Jupiter was found. Two more planets were discovered in 2002 and 2010.

Nu and Xi Ursa Major - "first jump"

Alula Northern (Nu Ursa Major) is a double star visible to the naked eye. The apparent magnitude is 3.490, and the distance is 399 light years. This is a giant (K3 III), whose radius is 57 times greater than the sun and 775 times brighter. The name "Alula Borealis" comes from the Arabic word al-Ūlā - meaning "first (jump)", and the Latin "Borealis" - northern.

Alula South (Xi Ursa Major) is a star system discovered in 1780 by William Herschel. It is represented by main sequence dwarfs (G0 Ve) with a combined magnitude of 3.79 (4.32 and 4.84), and a distance of 29 light years.

This is a variable star RS Canis Venichi (near binary stars with large spots created by the active chromosphere). Spots cause the brightness to change by 0.2 magnitudes.

Each of the two objects of the Xi system acts as a spectroscopic twin and is accompanied by a low-mass companion. In 1828, Xi became the first binary star whose orbit could be calculated.

Nu and Xi are the first of three star pairs, which the ancient Arabs called "gazelle jumps".

Taniya North (Lambda) and Taniya South (Mu) - "second jump"

Lambda Ursa Major is a star (A2 IV - losing mass and turning into a giant) with an apparent magnitude of 3.45 and a distance of 138 light years.

Mu Ursa Major is a red giant (M0) located 230 light years away. The visual magnitude is 3.06. It is a semi-regular variable star whose brightness ranges from 2.99 to 3.33. Accompanied by a visual companion 1.5 AU distant.

Talita North (Iota) and Talita South (Kappa) - "the third jump"

Iota Ursa Major is a star system represented by two double stars: a white subgiant (A7 IV), which is a spectroscopic binary object, and stars of the 9th and 10th magnitudes. When the B component was noticed in 1841, the two binary stars were separated by 10.7 arcseconds. Now this distance is 4.5 arc seconds. The orbital period is 818 years. The system is 47.3 light years distant from us.

Kappa Ursa Major is a double star represented by two A-type main sequence dwarfs with visual magnitudes of 4.2 and 4.4. The apparent magnitude of the system is 3.60, and the distance is 358 light years.

Muscida(Omicron Ursa Major) is a multiple star system (G4 II-III - between a giant and a bright giant) with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.35 and a distance of 179 light years. The traditional name means "snout".

Groombridge 1830- subdwarf (G8V), located at 29.7 light years. In the early 19th century, it was found and recorded by the British astronomer Stephen Groombridge (published in 1838).

At the time of discovery, it was the star with the highest proper motion. Went to third after discovering Kapteyn's Star and Barnard's Star.

It is a halo star moving in the opposite direction of the galaxy's rotation. Usually such specimens are poor in metal, because they formed at an earlier age of the galaxy. Most halo stars are located above or below the galactic plane. Age - 10 billion years. They have highly eccentric orbits and high space velocity.

Lalande 21185- a red dwarf (M2V) with an apparent magnitude of 7.520 (cannot be found without technology) and a distance of 8.11 light years. This is the fourth closest star system to ours after Alpha Centauri, Barnard's Star and Wolf 359. In 19900 years, it will approach the Sun at 4.65 light years.

This is the BY Dragon variable and is a known X-ray source.

Psi Ursa Major- an orange giant (K1 III) with a visual magnitude of 3.01 and a distance of 144.5 light years. The Chinese call him Tian Zang or Ta Zun - "extremely honorable."

Celestial objects of the constellation Ursa Major

Bode Galaxy(M81, NGC 3031) is a bright, large spiral galaxy 11.8 light-years away. Apparent magnitude - 6.94 (very popular among beginners and amateur astronomers).

The apparent size is 26.9 x 14.1 arc minutes. In March 1993, a supernova was observed - SN 1993J.

It was discovered by German astronomer Johann Bode in 1774. In 1779, Charles Messier re-identified her and added her to the catalog.

It is the largest galaxy in the M81 group (34 galaxies), located 10 degrees northwest of the star Dubhe (Alpha Ursa Major).

It interacts with the neighboring galaxies Messier 82 and with the smaller NGC 3077. Because of this, all lost hydrogen gas and formed gaseous filamentary structures. In addition, star formation has been activated, caused by interstellar gas entering the centers of Messier 82 and NGC 3077.

Galaxy Cigar(M82, NGC 3034) is an edge galaxy with an apparent magnitude of 8.41 and a distance of 11.5 million light years.

Star formation in the galactic core is 10 times faster than star formation in the entire Milky Way. M82 is also 5 times brighter. In 2005, Hubble found 197 massive star clusters in the central region.

M82 displays infrared excess and is the brightest galaxy in the sky when viewed in infrared light.

It is believed to have experienced at least one tidal collision with Messier 81 in the past. Because of this, over the past 200 million years, a huge amount of gas has entered its core and increased star formation by 10 times.

Owl Nebula(M97, NGC 3587) is a planetary nebula with an apparent magnitude of 9.9 and a distance of 2600 light years. In the center is a star of the 16th magnitude.

In 1781, the nebula was discovered by Pierre Méchain. Age - 8000 years. It got its name because it looks like an owl's eye when viewed through a telescope.

pinwheel(M101, NGC 5457) is a grand design spiral galaxy observed by the face. The apparent magnitude is 7.86, and the distance is 20.9 million light years. In August 2011, they found a type Ia supernova (an explosion of a white dwarf star) - SN 2011fe.

Pierre Méchain discovered the galaxy in 1781 and was later added to the catalog by Charles Messier. Méchain described it as "a nebula without a star, very obscure and rather large - from 6" to 7" in diameter".

It covers 170,000 light-years in diameter (70% larger than the Milky Way). Hosts a number of large, bright H II regions and hot newborn stars.

There are 5 companion galaxies: NGC 5474, NGC 5204, NGC 5477, NGC 5585 and Holmberg IV. Most likely, the grand design was created due to contact with them.

(M108, NGC 3556) is a barred spiral galaxy discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781. We see almost the edge. It has a visual magnitude of 10.7 and a distance of 45,000 light years.

It is an isolated member of the Ursa Major Cluster (within the Virgo Supercluster). M108 contains approximately 290 globular clusters and 83 X-ray sources.

In 1969, a type 2 supernova, 1969B, was observed.

(M109, NGC 3992) is a barred spiral galaxy with an apparent magnitude of 10.6 and a distance of 83.5 million light-years. It is located southeast of Gamma Ursa Major. In 1781, Pierre Mechain found it, and after 2 years Charles Messier added it to the catalog.

In 1956, a type Ia supernova, SN 1956A, was discovered. There are also 3 satellite galaxies: UGC 6923, UGC 6940 and UGC 6969.

It is the brightest galaxy in the M109 group (contains over 50 galaxies).

NGC 5474 is a dwarf galaxy located near M101, with which it interacts. Shows signs of a spiral structure. The visual magnitude is 11.3, and the distance is 22 million light years.

Due to tidal interactions with M101, the disk shifts away from the core and activates star birth. You can explore the constellation Ursa Major more closely by using our online 3D models and telescope. For independent search, a static or moving map of the starry sky is suitable.