1. Constellation: The Great Bear
Ursa Major
Constellation:
The Great Bear

2. Ursa Major
Ursae Majoris
Abbreviation Uma
On meridian 9pm April 20

3. Ursa Major Best-known (with possible exception of Orion) Third-largest
Asterism
Big Dipper (US/Canada)
Plough (UK/Ireland)
1st, 2nd, & 3rd leap (Arab culture)

4. Ursa Major Part of our cultural and literary history
Noted by Homer, Spenser, Shakespeare, Tennyson
Mentioned in Finnish Kalevala

5. Ursa Major
Van Gogh’s Starry Night Over the Rhone

6. Ursa Major Flag of Alaska 8 stars – Ursa Major & Polaris
Designed 1927 by 13-year-old Benny Benson

7. Ursa Major Often seen as bear Greek Kallisto Jewish culture
Greek αρκτος “bear” – origin of word arctic
Jewish culture
One of few star groups mentioned in Bible
Iroquois Native Americans
Alioth, Mizar, Alkaid are hunters pursuing Great Bear
Housatonic said bear’s falling blood colored leaves in autumn

8. Ursa Major Other interpretations Egyptians – thigh of bull
China – Tseh Sing “the government”
Europe – wagon or chariot
Identified with Arthur
Some say stars revolving around Polaris origin of Round Table

9. Ursa Major Notable stars Dubhe (a UMa) Merak (β UMa) Phecda (γ)
Arabic for “bear”
Merak (β UMa)
Arabic for “flank” (of bear)
Phecda (γ)
“thigh”
Megrez (δ)
“root of tail”

10. North Star Polaris αUMi – Alpha Ursae Minoris
Greek Cynosura (Κυνόσουρα)
“tail of the dog”
cynosure: something that guides or center of attention
½° degree from NCP
classical Population I Cepheid
highly studied

11. Ursa Major
Messier 81 (M81)/NGC 3031
One of sky’s brightest galaxies

12. Ursa Major
Messier 81 & 82

13. Ursa Major