Ursa Major constellation: how to find it, when to see it and what is in it
In short
The third-largest constellation and the key signpost of the northern sky. Seven bright stars of the Great Bear form the Big Dipper, which leads to Polaris and due north. From most of Europe and Russia it never sets: on spring evenings the Dipper is nearly overhead, in autumn it sits low in the north. In the handle lie Mizar and Alcor — seeing both is an old test of eyesight.
Area: 1,280 square degrees, 3 of 88 · Neighbours: Boötes, Canes Venatici, Camelopardalis, Coma Berenices, Draco, Leo Minor, Leo, Lynx · Updated 10 October 2026
How to find Ursa Major
- 1
Find the Big Dipper
Seven bright stars: four make the bowl, three the curved handle. On spring evenings it is high overhead, in summer in the northwest, in autumn low in the north, in winter in the northeast.
- 2
Look at Mizar and Alcor
The middle star of the handle is Mizar; faint Alcor sits right next to it. If you can see both, your eyes and the sky are good.
- 3
Head for Polaris
Draw a line from Merak through Dubhe — the two end stars of the bowl — and go five times that distance. That is Polaris, and below it lies north.
When it is visible over London
| Month | Where and when | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| January | in the north, around 03:11 | before dawn |
| February — march | in the north, around 01:14 | around midnight |
| April | in the north, around 22:16 | in the evening |
| May | in the west, around 22:24 | in the evening |
| June — august | in the northwest, around 23:21 | in the evening |
| September — november | in the northeast, around 05:13 | before dawn |
| December | in the north, around 05:14 | before dawn |
Stars of the constellation
| Star | What it is | Magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Alioth · ε UMa | white star | 1.8ᵐ |
| Dubhe · α UMa | orange giant | 1.8ᵐ |
| Alkaid · η UMa | blue-white main-sequence star | 1.9ᵐ |
| Mizar · ζ UMa | white main-sequence star | 2.3ᵐ |
| Merak · β UMa | white main-sequence star | 2.4ᵐ |
| Phecda · γ UMa | white main-sequence star | 2.4ᵐ |
| ψ UMa | orange giant | 3.0ᵐ |
| Tania Australis · μ UMa | red giant | 3.0ᵐ |
Ursa Major FAQ
When is the best time to see Ursa Major?
Where is Ursa Major in the sky?
What is the brightest star in Ursa Major?
Neighbouring and other constellations
Related
Constellation lines: Stellarium, CC BY-SA · star names: IAU WGSN, CC BY 4.0