Asterism
The Little Dipper
The main pattern of Ursa Minor, whose handle ends at Polaris, the North Star.
Constellations
The constellation this pattern draws its stars from.
Stars
An asterism is a recognisable star pattern that is not one of the 88 official IAU constellations. Explore the 88 constellations →
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- BritannicaEncyclopaedia Britannica
General reference for the history of astronomy, biographies, and cultural context.