A Guide to Locating the Big Dipper

The Big Dipper stands out as one of the most famous groupings of stars in the night sky. It forms a segment of the larger Ursa Major constellation, also known as the Big Bear, and it features prominently in the folklore of numerous cultures. Recognizing its position can assist with navigation and timekeeping. Spotting it is relatively straightforward if you know what to look for.

Choose the appropriate location. Position yourself in an area where there isn't excessive artificial lighting. Your chances of spotting the Big Dipper improve in areas with minimal light pollution.

• Ensure you're situated where the northern horizon is unobstructed.
• Wait until nightfall. Attempting to locate the Big Dipper during the day is futile. The optimal viewing period is typically between March and June, around 10 p.m.

Look towards the north. To locate the Big Dipper, direct your gaze towards the northern sky. Determine the north direction using a magnetic compass or map. Tilt your head upward to an angle of approximately 60 degrees.

• During midsummer and autumn, the Big Dipper will be closer to the horizon, so avoid looking too high up.
• If you're situated north of Little Rock, Arkansas, you should be able to spot the Big Dipper throughout the night, any day of the year.
• For those residing as far north as New York or beyond, the Big Dipper should remain visible above the horizon at all times. In southern regions, observing the complete Big Dipper in autumn can be challenging, as some stars may be obscured.

Consider seasonal variations. Seasonality plays a significant role here. During spring or summer, the Big Dipper will appear higher in the sky, while in fall or winter, it will be nearer to the horizon.

• Remember the saying 'spring up and fall down' to assist in locating the Big Dipper.
• In autumn, the Big Dipper will rest on the horizon in the evening. In winter, the handle may seem to hang from the bowl. During spring, the Big Dipper may appear upside down, while in summer, the bowl will tilt toward the ground.

Identify the Big Dipper. The Big Dipper resembles a bowl attached to a handle. The handle comprises three stars aligned in a row, while the bowl consists of four stars, forming an irregular square shape. The overall appearance of the Big Dipper somewhat resembles a kite, with the handle representing the string and the bowl resembling the kite itself.

• The last two stars in the handle, called Dubhe and Merak, are known as the pointers. The brightest star, Alioth, sits closest to the bowl, positioned as the third star on the handle.
• The tip of the handle is named Alkaid, signifying 'the leader.' It is the third brightest star in Ursa Major and six times larger than the sun. Following Alkaid is Mizar, which comprises two double stars.
• Megrez connects the tail to the base of the bowl and is the faintest of the seven stars of the Big Dipper. Phecda, referred to as the 'thigh of the bear,' lies south of Megrez and forms part of the bowl.

Locate the North Star. Spotting the North Star can lead you to find the Big Dipper, and vice versa. The North Star, often bright, typically sits in the northern sky at about one-third of the way from the horizon to the zenith. Also known as Polaris,

• The Big Dipper revolves around the North Star throughout the seasons and the night. Its stars are as luminous as those of the North Star. The North Star serves as a navigational reference as it points towards 'true north.'
• The North Star, brightest in the Little Dipper, marks the end of its handle. Trace an imaginary line downwards from the North Star, and you should locate the two stars at the end of the Big Dipper's handle, known as pointer stars for their alignment with the Big Dipper. Polaris is approximately five stars distant from the pointer stars themselves.

Utilize the Big Dipper for timekeeping. The Big Dipper remains circumpolar, meaning it doesn't rise or set like the sun. Instead, it orbits around the north celestial pole.

• Throughout the night, it orbits around the pole counterclockwise, with the bowl leading. It completes one revolution around the pole per sidereal day, which is four minutes shorter than a standard 24-hour day.
• Hence, you can utilize the rotations of the Big Dipper to gauge the passage of time.

Explore the folklore surrounding the Big Dipper. Certain Native American tribes interpreted the bowl of the Big Dipper as a bear, with the handle stars representing three warriors in pursuit.

• Others saw the bowl as the bear's flank and the handle as its tail. In the UK and Ireland, it's known as the “Plough,” originating from Nordic mythology where it was believed to be the chariot of the chief god, Odin. In Danish, it's referred to as “Karlsvogna” or Charles' wagon.
• Different cultures perceive the Big Dipper differently; for instance, in China, Japan, and Korea, it's seen as a ladle, while in northern England, a cleaver, and in Germany and Hungary, a cart. In the Netherlands, it's viewed as a saucepan, in Finland a salmon net, and in Saudi Arabia, a coffin.
• Escaped slaves in America navigated towards freedom using the Underground Railroad, guided by the “drinking Gourd,” a term referring to the Big Dipper. The Micmacs of Canada saw the bowl as a celestial bear, with its handle stars representing hunters pursuing it.

Discover the distances of the Big Dipper stars from Earth. The stars composing the Big Dipper belong to the Ursa Major Moving Cluster. The farthest star, Alkaid, forming the handle, is 210 light-years away.

• Other stars include Dubhe (105 light-years); Phecda (90 light-years); Mizar (88 light-years); Merak (78 light-years); Alioth (68 light-years); and Megrez (63 light-years).
• These stars are in motion, meaning that in approximately 50,000 years, the Big Dipper's shape will alter.

Utilize the North Star to locate the Little Dipper. Once you've pinpointed the Big Dipper, spotting the Little Dipper should be straightforward.

• Keep in mind that the two outermost stars in the Big Dipper's handle point towards the North Star, which marks the beginning of the Little Dipper's handle.
• The Little Dipper, though dimmer than the Big Dipper, shares a similar appearance. It consists of a handle composed of three stars connected to a four-star bowl. Finding the Little Dipper can be challenging, especially in urban areas, due to its fainter stars.

Utilize the Big Dipper to locate Ursa Major. The Big Dipper, classified as an asterism, forms part of the Ursa Major constellation, also known as the Big Bear.

• The stars of the Big Dipper represent the bear's tail and hindquarters. The Ursa Major constellation is most visible in April around 9 p.m. Utilizing a visual reference, such as an online diagram, can assist in identifying the remaining stars constituting the Big Bear once the Big Dipper is located.
• Ursa Major ranks as the third largest constellation among the 88 official constellations.

• When seeking Ursa Major, remember that the Big Dipper represents the Great Bear's tail.