Starting off the journey we will be looking at Ursa Major. I first learned of this constellation as a kid. Like a lot of people I had originally learned it as “The Big Dipper” because it looks so much like a dipper/pot.
What are the seven stars that make up The Big Dipper?
The big dipper consists of seven stars, from the “bowl” the the end of the handle these stars are: Dubhe, Merak, Phecda, Megrez, Alioth, Mizar and Alkaid (0001.A).
While even young kids can see this constellation and connect the dots, it shouldn’t be dismissed as being just for fun. If you are unfamiliar with the night sky, the front of The Big Dipper can be used to find Polaris (The North Star). Polaris is an important star, as it gives the closest and consistent direction of true north. From our view on Earth, Polaris sits in the same position all the time. Because of this, all the other stars look as though they are rotating around Polaris itself (video below).
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Polaris itself doesn’t move, but our rotation makes it seem as though all other stars rotate around it. This video has been uploaded to YouTube & monetization turned off, however YouTube still shows ads.
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