Constellation · UMi · northern sky
Ursa Minor
Ursae Minoris — The Lesser Bear
Constellations#56 by area
Imagery
Big Dipper (ann22042ah)
Image title: Big DipperAuthor: Arya AnthonyCountry: IndiaThis photograph, taken in Udupi, India, in May 2021, shows the seven brightest stars in the constellation Ursa Major.
Arya Anthony/IAU OAE · CC BY
Overview
Ursa Minor (Ursae Minoris) — The Lesser Bear is one of the 88 modern constellations recognised by the International Astronomical Union.
Highlights
- ★Contains Polaris, the North Star
- ★The Little Dipper asterism
Notable stars
16 catalogued stars in this encyclopedia.
- Kochabmag 2.07
- Pherkadmag 3
- Epsilon Ursae Minorismag 4.21
- 5 Ursae Minorismag 4.25
- Zeta Ursae Minorismag 4.29
- Yildunmag 4.35
- HR 5589mag 4.63
- 4 Ursae Minorismag 4.8
- Eta Ursae Minorismag 4.95
- Theta Ursae Minorismag 5
- 11 Ursae Minorismag 5.02
- HR 5691mag 5.15
Deep-sky objects
Neighbouring constellations
Knowledge connections
- IncludesPolaris
- Constellation ofKochab
- Constellation ofPherkad
- Constellation ofEpsilon Ursae Minoris
- Constellation of5 Ursae Minoris
- Constellation ofZeta Ursae Minoris
- Constellation ofYildun
- Constellation ofHR 5589
- Constellation of4 Ursae Minoris
- Constellation ofEta Ursae Minoris
- Constellation ofTheta Ursae Minoris
- Constellation of11 Ursae Minoris
- Constellation ofHR 5691
- Constellation ofHR 5334
- Constellation of19 Ursae Minoris
- Constellation ofHR 5139
- Constellation ofBaekdu
- Contains objectPolarissima Borealis
- Neighbour ofCepheus
- Neighbour ofDraco
- Neighbour ofCamelopardalis
- Belongs to familyUrsa Major Family
- Associated withThe Little Dipper
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- IAUInternational Astronomical Union
Official naming, definitions, constellation boundaries, and astronomical nomenclature.