// Constellation
Ursa Major
“Big Dipper”
- Latin name
- Ursa Major (UMa)
- Best visibility
- evenings in April
- Fully visible between
- 90° N – 17° S
- Naked-eye stars
- 124
Ursa Major is highest in the evening sky (around 9 pm) in April. The whole constellation rises above the horizon between 90° N and 17° S. Its brightest star is Alioth at magnitude 1.76 — about 83 light-years away.
The brightest stars
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alioth | ε UMa | 1.76 | 83 ly |
| Dubhe | α UMa | 1.81 | 123 ly |
| Alkaid | η UMa | 1.85 | 104 ly |
| Mizar | ζ UMa | 2.23 | 86 ly |
| Merak | β UMa | 2.34 | 80 ly |
| Phecda | γ UMa | 2.41 | 83 ly |
More constellations
Star data: HYG database. Constellation borders: IAU.