The Bear in the Stars

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This constellation is named for the larger of Orion’s two hunting dogs (the other, Canis Minor, has only twostars). To find CanisMajor:

NGC 5474 is a peculiar dwarf galaxy in Ursa Major, located near the Pinwheel Galaxy (M101), with which it interacts. The galaxy is often classified as a dwarf spiral galaxy because it shows signs of a spiral structure. As a result of the tidal interactions with M101, the galaxy’s disk is offset from the nucleus, and so is the star formation. NGC 2787 is a lenticular galaxy at a distance of 24 million light-years. Unlike most lenticular galaxies, NGC 2787 has a bar at its center. It also has a halo of globular clusters, indicating its age and relative stability. [19] If you find the Big Dipper, you have found the Great Bear:The Dipper’s handle is the Bear’s tail. See the image to the right (credit: NASA/Akira Fujii).

Phecda’s estimated age is 300 million years. The star is located only 8.55 light years away from the Mizar-Alcor star system. Megrez – δ Ursae Majoris (Delta Ursae Majoris)

This is easiest to find in the winter. Look for three bright stars in a line—these are Orion’s belt. See image to the left (credit: NASA). Ursa Major contains seven Messier objects that are located within and around the constellation. The most famous of these seven are the Pinwheel Galaxy, Bode’s Galaxy, the Cigar Galaxy, and the Owl Nebula. The star’s traditional name, Alula Borealis, is derived from the Arabic word al-Ūlā, which means “the first (leap),” and the Latin word for “northern,” borealis. Ongoing Covid restrictions, reduced air and freight capacity, high volumes and winter weather conditions are all impacting transportation and local delivery across the globe.Several bright galaxies are found in Ursa Major, including the pair Messier 81 (one of the brightest galaxies in the sky) and Messier 82 above the bear's head, and Pinwheel Galaxy (M101), a spiral northeast of η Ursae Majoris. The spiral galaxies Messier 108 and Messier 109 are also found in this constellation. The bright planetary nebula Owl Nebula (M97) can be found along the bottom of the bowl of the Big Dipper. Gamma Ursae Majoris is the lower left star in the bowl of the Big Dipper. It belongs to the Ursa Major Moving Group. The star’s traditional name, Phecda (or Phad), is derived from the Arabic phrase fakhð ad-dubb, which means “the thigh of the bear.”

M101 has five notable companion galaxies: NGC 5474, NGC 5204, NGC 5477, NGC 5585 and Holmberg IV. The grand design pattern of the Pinwheel Galaxy is suspected to be a result of the interaction between the galaxy and its companions. Messier 108 (M108, NGC 3556) Another way to find Cygnus is to look for an asterism called the Summer Triangle. This is a group of three quite bright stars that are roughly directly above an observer in the UK during summer.Ursae Majoris, or Megrez, meaning "root of the tail", referring to its location as the intersection of the body and tail of the bear (or the ladle and handle of the dipper). The star’s traditional names, Alkaid and Benetnash (or Benetnasch), come from the Arabic phrase qā’id bināt na’sh, which means “the leader of the daughters of the bier.” The three stars marking the handle of the Big Dipper represent three mourning maidens, while the stars that form the body of the bowl represent the bier. The name Alkaid itself means leader.