Ursa Major

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Ursa Major

Constellation
List of stars in Ursa Major
Abbreviation	UMa
Genitive	Ursae Majoris
Pronunciation	/ˈɜːrsə ˈmeɪdʒər/, genitive /ˌɜːrsiː məˈdʒɒrɪs/
Symbolism	the Great Bear
Right ascension	10.67
Declination	+55.38
Quadrant	NQ2
Area	1280 sq. deg. (3rd)
Main stars	7, 20
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	93
Stars with planets	20
Stars brighter than 3.00m	7
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)	8
Brightest star	ε UMa (Alioth) (1.76m)
Messier objects	7
Meteor showers	Alpha Ursa Majorids Leonids-Ursids
Bordering constellations	Draco Camelopardalis Lynx Leo Minor Leo Coma Berenices Canes Venatici Boötes
Visible at latitudes between +90° and −30°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of April. The Big Dipper or Plough.

Ursa Major is a constellation that can be seen in the northern hemisphere and part of the southern hemisphere. Its name means Great Bearin Latin. It was named that because many different groups of people around the world have thought that its stars look a lot like a bear with a long tail. It is often used as a symbol for north.

According to Greek mythology, Ursa Major was once the beautiful maiden Callisto, whom the god Zeus had an affair with. In order to protect her and their son, Arcas, from his jealous wife Hera, Zeus turned Callisto and Arcas into bears. He then picked up the bears by their short, stubby tails and threw them into the sky.^[1]

The constellation cannot be seen from the southern areas of Patagonia, South Africa, Australia, and all of New Zealand except the Northland region.

1. ↑ "Ursa Major in Greek Mythology| the myth of Zeus and Callisto". 20 March 2011.