How many bright stars are in the constellation Ursa Major. The number of bright stars in the Ursa Major bucket how many stars are in the constellation Ursa Major
The most conspicuous and well-known constellation to all, without exception, is, of course, Ursa Major. More precisely, it is not she herself that is clearly visible in the night sky, but part of her - Big Bucket. If you look closely, then below and to the right of it you can see a few more stars that make up the paws and head of the Bear. The shape of this constellation is really very fascinating. After all, no one has ever seen bears with such long tails.
Quantity bright stars in the bucket of the Big Dipper is clear to everyone. There are exactly seven of them. The name of these stars was given by Arab astrologers in the Middle Ages.
To our ears, their “names” sound really strange:
- Merak.
- Mizar.
- Fegda.
- Megrets.
- Dubge.
- Aliot.
- Benetnash.
From the earth, these stars appear equidistant. In fact, this is far from the case. The number of bright stars in the Ursa Major bucket is seven, and they are all not at equal distances from the Earth and the Sun.
Closest to our planet is Benetnash. The farthest star, Alioth, is sixty light-years away. However, it looks brighter than Benetnash. This is the brightest and most brilliant object of the Bucket. According to the apparent intensity of the emitted light, all the stars of this part of the Big Dipper are close to the stars of the 2nd magnitude.
Noteworthy Facts
If you look very closely at one of the stars of the Bucket - Mizara, you can see a faint flicker right next to it. This is explained very simply. Mizar is not an ordinary star, but a double one.
The facility located right next to it is called Alcor. From Arabic, these two words are translated as "Horse" and "Rider". Alcor and Mizar are one of the most visible double stars from Earth.
The number of bright stars in the Big Dipper bucket is seven. However, if you look at it through binoculars or a telescope, you can see two more small strokes of light. Unlike stars, they look fuzzy and blurry. This is how distant galaxies look from Earth. Located inside the Ursa are called Whirlpool and Pinwheel.
Rotation of the Huge Bucket
The fact that our Earth does not stand still is clear to any schoolchild. Due to its movement, it seems that the stars in the sky are spinning. The Bucket is no exception in this regard. In winter and autumn, Ursa Major is located in the northern part of the night sky, not too high from the horizon. In spring and summer, this most conspicuous constellation can be seen almost at its zenith. And at this time of the year, Ursa Major looks upside down.
celestial compass
So, the number of bright stars in the Big Dipper bucket is exactly seven. Two of them can serve as a guide for those who are on the road. The fact is that it is easy to find the most famous star world - Polar. It's easy to do. It is only necessary to draw an imaginary line along the two outer stars of the Ladle bowl. Further on it should measure approximately the distance between them. The North Star itself is located almost above the northernmost pole.
In ancient times, when there were no navigational instruments yet, it specifically served as a guide for all sailors and travelers. So, if you suddenly find yourself in a difficult situation in an unfamiliar area - look at the constellation Ursa Major. The polar star found on it will show you the way to the north. This small and not too bright celestial object has more than once rescued those lost in the taiga, in the desert or in the sea. The North Star leads the nearest neighbor of Ursa Major - Ursa Minor. The area of location of both these "animals" is considered circumpolar according to the systematization of astrologers.
How many stars are in the Big Dipper
Of course, in this constellation itself there are even more stars than in its most conspicuous part - the Bucket. On the this moment they are understood to be about 125. These are over a hundred bright objects, against which the Sun would look like a small and dim luminous point. The closest star to Earth, unfortunately, is not even visible to the naked eye. She also does not have a name. According to astronomical systematization, it passes as a star of 7.5 m. The light from it to the Earth takes about 8.25 years. This is almost twice as much as from the closest star to us - Alpha Centauri. Thus, the answer to the question of how many stars are in Ursa Major is simple - more than a hundred and not all of them are visible without a telescope or binoculars. To see a feral animal with a long tail in the Bucket, you actually need to have a fairly rich imagination.
Legend of the Big Dipper
Of course, about such conspicuous objects of the night sky as the stars of the constellation Ursa Major, there simply cannot but exist many different kinds of myths and legends. The most popular legend about her was invented by the Greeks. Chroniclers of this old country they say that once the king of Arcadia had an unusually beautiful daughter, Callisto. And this woman was so proud of her attractiveness that she dared to compete with Hera herself, the wife of Zeus. The enraged goddess, using her mystical power, of course, took revenge on the proud woman, turning her into a bear. The son of Callisto Arcas, who was returning from hunting at that time, saw a feral animal at the door of the palace and decided to kill him. However, at the last moment he was stopped by Zeus, who was not indifferent to the beauty. After the rescue, Callisto was raised to heaven. The stars of the Ursa Major bucket are what it is. At the same time, the supreme god raised the beauty’s beloved dog to heaven. It is now known by the name Ursa Minor s.
nearest constellations
The stars in the constellation Ursa Major, or rather in its Bucket, are the most noticeable in the night sky. However, in addition to Ursa Minor, there are several more recognizable constellations in this area. The reference point for finding one of them can be the same Polar Star. Behind her, on the opposite side from the Big Dipper, at approximately the same distance, Cassiopeia, familiar to many by name, flaunts. From the outside, this constellation looks like the Russian letter "M". At some positions of the Earth, Cassiopeia "turns over" and takes the form of a Latin W.
Between it and Ursa Minor, you can see the not so noticeable, but also the notorious constellation Cepheus. It does not have a clearly visible form. Between Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, it is also easy to see a wriggling Dragon. The chain of its stars is easily connected on the map by a broken line.
Well, we hope we answered main question articles about how many luminous permanent objects there are in Ursa Major. There are only seven of them in the Bucket. The main constellation contains about 125 distant "suns".
Big Dipper
Big Dipper\ Ursa Major is a constellation in the northern hemisphere of the sky. The seven stars of Ursa Major make up a figure resembling a ladle with a handle. The two brightest stars, Aliot and Dubhe, have magnitudes of 1.8 apparent magnitudes. According to the two extreme stars of this figure (α and β), you can find the Polar Star. The best visibility conditions are in March-April. It can be seen throughout Russia all year round (with the exception of the autumn months in southern Russia, when the Big Dipper descends low to the horizon). The number of stars brighter than 6.0m is 125.
First classification - Yerk classification with allowance for luminosity (MCC). An additional factor affecting the shape of the spectrum is the density of the outer layers of the star, which in turn depends on its mass and density, that is, ultimately, on the luminosity. SrII, BaII, FeII, TiII depend especially strongly on the luminosity, which leads to a difference in the spectra of giant stars and dwarfs of the same Harvard spectral types. The dependence of the type of spectrum on luminosity is reflected in the newer Yerkes classification developed at the Yerkes Observatory by W. Morgan, F. Keenan and E. Kelman, also called the ICC after the initials of its authors. In accordance with this classification, the star is assigned the Harvard spectral type and luminosity class: 
Second classification - Main (Harvard) spectral classification
, developed at the Harvard Observatory in 1890-1924, is a temperature classification based on the shape and relative intensity of absorption and emission lines in the spectra of stars. Within a class, stars are divided into subclasses from 0 (hottest) to 9 (coldest). The Sun has a spectral type of G2 and an equivalent photosphere temperature of 5780 K.
Stars of the constellation Ursa Major
Aliot\ Epsilon Ursa Major (ε Ursae Majoris) is the brightest star in the constellation. It is located on the 33rd place in brightness among all the stars in the visible part of the sky. Alioth is located at a distance of 80.84 light years from Earth. The star - A0pCr - is a white variable star of the type α² Canis Hounds. It has a strong magnetic field (100 times stronger than the Earth's field) splits different elements of the star's hydrogen fuel, then the angle of the axis of rotation to the axis magnetic field combines various elements sorted by magnetic properties, in one line, visible between Aliot and the Earth. The elements react differently with different frequencies of light, refracting it, which is why Aliot has extremely strange spectral lines that fluctuate with a period of 5.1 days. In the case of Aliot, the axes of rotation and the magnetic field are at an angle of almost 90 degrees to each other. The temperature of the star is 9400K.
Dubhe(α Ursae Majoris) is the second brightest star. Dubhe is a multiple star, the main component is the orange giant K0III, which is in the helium burning stage. Its temperature is 6400K. The star is 300 times brighter than the Sun and 15 times larger in diameter. The second F0V and the third F8 star are main sequence stars. The distance between stars A and B is 23 AU, A and C is 8000 AU. Dubhe is located at a distance of about 123.5 sv. years.
Benetnash\ This (η Ursae Majoris) is a white-blue main sequence star B3 V. Benetnash is already 10 million years old. The star is at a distance of about 100 sv. years from the Sun. Its temperature is 22,000K. It is 6 times larger than the Sun and 1350 times the luminosity.
Mizar - Alcor (ζ UMa) - a system of stars from 6 components. Two stars Mizar A, 2 stars Mizar B and 2 stars Alcor. The main stars are Alcor and Mizar.
Mizar is an A1V dwarf. It is located at a distance of about 78.07 light years. Its temperature is 9000K. Mizar B has magnitude 4.0 and spectral type A7, the distance between Mizar A and Mizar B is 380 AU. That is, the period of circulation is several thousand years.
Alcor is the magnitude of Alcor 4.02, spectral type A5 V. The distance between Mizar and Alcor is more than a quarter of a light year. It is located at a distance of 81.06 St. years. Its temperature is 8200K.
Merak\ Beta Ursae Majoris (β Ursae Majoris) - A1V dwarf. 3 times the mass of the sun and 2 times the radius of the sun. It is 68 times greater than the luminosity of the Sun. Temperature - 9400K. It is located at a distance of 79.32 light years (24.4 parsecs).
Fekda\ Gamma Ursae Majoris (γ Ursae Majoris) - dwarf A0Ve SB. The mass is 2.7 times greater than the Sun, as well as the radius is 3 times greater. Its temperature is 9800K. She is at a distance of 83.55 St. years (25.5 parsecs) It is surrounded by a shell of gas. The star rotates very fast, its speed is 178 km/s. Its age is estimated at 300 million years.
Megrets\ Delta (δ Ursae Majoris) - dwarf A3 V. Megrets is 63% larger than the mass of the Sun, 1.4 times the radius of the Sun. It shines 14 times more and its temperature is 9480K. She has a 16 amp throttle. e. The star has 2 weak companions.
Taniya North \ Lambda (λ Ursae Majoris) - white subgiant A2 IV. It is removed at a distance of 134.2 sv. years (42 parsecs) from Earth. It is now 410 million years old. The star has 240% of the mass and 230% of the radius of the Sun and radiates 37% more. Its temperature is 9100K.
Taniya South \ Mu Ursae Majoris (μ Ursae Majoris) is a red giant M0 IIIab. Its radius is 75 times larger than the Sun. Its temperature is about 3700K. The star is located at 248.5 St. years. The star is a semi-regular variable, but after additional observations, it is believed that the star has a companion with a rotation period of 230 days.
Talita North \ Talitha Borealis (ι Ursae Majoris) - white subgiant A7 IV. It is located at a distance of 47.68 St. years (14.5 parsecs). Iota consists of three components: Iota Ursa Major A, 9th magnitude Iota Ursa Major B (M1 V) and 10th magnitude Iota Ursa Major C (/M1 V). These two stars revolve around each other with a period of 39.7 years and are separated by about 0.7 arcseconds. Iota A is 1.7 times larger in mass and 1.5 times larger in radius than the Sun. Its temperature is 7900K. The luminosity is 9 times greater than the Sun.
Talita South \ Kappa (κ Ursae Majoris) is a double star. Both stars are white dwarfs A0IV-V + A0V. The orbital period of revolution is from 36 to 74 years. These stars are 422.5 light years away from us. Their temperature is about 9400K. Both stars will become subgiants. Each star rotates over 201 km/s. (about 3 days). Brightness 290/250 solar.
Alula North\ Nu (ν Ursae Majoris) - is a double star. The main star is the orange giant K3 III. Its luminosity is 1355 times greater than the Sun, and its radius is 76 times greater. The temperature is around 4300K. And the mass is 4 times that of the Sun. The stars are distant from us at a distance of 420.9 sv. years. The second star is a G1V yellow dwarf whose luminosity is 30% greater than that of the Sun.
Alula South\ Xi (ξ Ursae Majoris) is a star system. That this is a double system was understood by William Herschel on May 2, 1780. It was the first visual binary star, whose orbit was calculated by Felix Savary in 1828. The two stars are G0 Ve/G0 Ve yellow dwarfs of the main sequence. They are classified as Variable RS Hounds. The temperature of the stars is ~5900 K. Their mass, radius and luminosity are only slightly higher than the Sun, and their metallicities are also similar. Each star has a companion. The star Alula Aa has an M3 class companion. Alula Ba has a companion - a brown dwarf or a red dwarf, and even an orange dwarf. In addition, astrometric data indicate the existence of a third companion in this subsystem. The stars are 33.94 light years away from us.
Alkafzah\ Chi (χ Ursae Majoris) - orange giant K0.5IIIb. It is located at a distance of about 195.8 sv. years from Earth. The star is 20 times the radius of the Sun. Its temperature is 4700K. It shines 172 times stronger than the Sun. Its rotation speed is 1.15 km/s. (1000 days). The star is at least 1000 million years old.
Tien Tsan\Psi (ψ Ursae Majoris) - orange giant K1 III. The star is at a distance of 146.7 sv. years from Earth. It is 20 times the radius of the Sun. And radiates 148 times. Temperature - 4500K. Rotation around its axis - 1.1 km / s (1 revolution in 2.6 years). Tien Tsan began its life 300 million years as a blue-white B7 main sequence star and will end its days as a white dwarf with a mass of about 0.7 solar masses.
23 Ursae Majoris- yellow subgiant F0IV. It is located at a distance of 75.41 St. years. Her tempera is 7300K. It shines 14 times more than the Sun and has a radius 2.5 times greater. Rotation speed - 147 km / s (1 revolution - 20.4 hours). The star is a Delta Shield type variable. It has an orange dwarf companion K7v. Mass 0.63 solar.
Muscida\ Omicron (ο Ursae Majoris) - G4 II–III yellow giant. It is located at a distance of about 183.4 St. years. Its mass is about 2.42 solar masses. The radius is 14 times that of the Sun. Radiates in 138 times more. Its temperature is 5282K. The star has a companion - a red dwarf M1v, which is an X-ray source.
Upsilon(υ Ursae Majoris) is a double star. Main component yellow subgiant F2 IV. This variable star is of the Delta Scuti type. Rotation speed 124 km / s. (1.4 days). Its temperature is 7300 K. The luminosity is 30 times greater than the Sun. The star has a companion - the red dwarf M0V. With a mass of 0.5 solar. The stars are at a distance of 114.9 sv. years from Earth.
φ Ursa Major - subgiant A3IV. It is located at a distance of about 436.1 St. years. Its temperature is 8900K. 2.5 times the mass of the Sun.
Theta(θ Ursae Majoris) is a binary system of stars. The main star is a yellow subgiant F6 IV. They are located at a distance of 43.93 St. years from Earth. It is 141% larger than the Sun and 250% larger in radius. She is already 2.2 billion years old. Its temperature is 6500K. The McDonald Observatory suggests that the star has planets with masses between 0.24 and 4.6 Jupiter masses and orbits between 0.05 and 5.2 AU.
Objects deep space in the constellation Ursa Major
Nebulae
M97- the owl nebula is a planetary nebula. First opener - Pierre Mechain 16.02. 1781 The nebula is located at a distance of 2598 sv. years from us. Photographic magnitude (B) - 12.0. Visible dimensions 3.4" × 3.3". A nebula is a cylindrical ring of light. The Owl Nebula formed 6,000 years ago. The central star now has a mass of 0.7 solar masses and a magnitude of 16. To see the nebula well, you need a telescope from 150 - 200 mm. Size in diameter - 2.2 St. of the year.
galaxies
Galaxy Cigar \ M82 - Irregular galaxy with powerful star formation. Type I0 edge-on. The increased star formation is possibly caused by the gravitational interaction of the Bode Galaxy, this interaction began about 100 million years ago. Because of gravitational interaction, they believe that it has become incorrect. An infrared study revealed distorted spiral arms. Star formation has been going on for 50 million years. Hubble telescope found in galaxy 197 star clusters. The frequency of supernova explosions is once every 10 years. At the center is a black hole 30 million times the mass of the Sun. And also discovered the existence of small black holes with a mass of 500 times the mass of the Sun. Most of the stars in the galaxy were born 500 million years ago. The galaxy is at a distance of 12.09 million light years. Redshift - 203 ± 4 km/s. Visible dimensions - 11`.2 × 4`.3. Size across - 39420 St. years.
Bode Galaxy-M81- spiral galaxy Sb. The first discoverer was Johann Bode in 1774. A lot of infrared radiation comes from space dust in the spiral arms of the galaxy due to star formation. In 1993, a type IIb supernova erupted in the galaxy. The galaxy is at a distance of 11.7 million km. years. (3.6 parsecs). The galaxy contains about 250 billion stars, fewer than the Milky Way. The Bode galaxy is in gravitational interaction with the spiral galaxy NGC 3077. This influence tears off a layer of hydrogen from 3 galaxies (M81, M82 and NGC 3077) and leads to star formation in the centers of galaxies. The galaxies M81, M82 are visible through a telescope from 75 mm. To distinguish details, you need a telescope with an aperture of 20 cm or more. The galaxy is at a distance of 12 mil. years. Visible dimensions 24.9" × 11.5". Photographic magnitude mB 7.8. Redshift −0.000140 ± 0.000040. The size in diameter is 86,980 St. years.
Galaxy Pinwheel - M 101 - spiral galaxy SA(sr)c. The first discoverer - Pierre Mechain 03/27/1781. The pinwheel galaxy is very similar to the Milky Way, with pronounced spiral arms and a small, compact bulge. But the Pinwheel is larger than the Milky Way in size. Its diameter is 206,000 St. years. Previously, the Pinwheel galaxy experienced collisions with other galaxies, which follows from some asymmetry. On August 24, 2011, a type Ia supernova erupted in this galaxy. This was the fourth supernova seen from Earth. There were also in 1909, 1951. and 1970 The galaxy is 24.57 million light years away from us. years. (8 megaparsecs). Visible dimensions 27" × 26". Photographic magnitude mB 8.2. Redshift - 0.0013±0.0002. The galaxy can be observed in a telescope with a diameter of 50 mm or more. Under good conditions and a telescope with a diameter of 150 mm or more, you can make out details: stars and spiral arms.
M 108- barred spiral galaxy (Sc). It was discovered by Pierre Mechain on February 16, 1781. The galaxy is visible almost edge-on. This galaxy has a mass of about 125 billion solar masses. And it includes 290 ± 80 globular clusters. With the help of the Chandra X-ray observatory, 83 X-ray sources were found. In the center is a supermassive black hole equal to 24 million solar masses. Photographic magnitude mB 10.6. Redshift +0.002328 ± 0.000003. The galaxy is at a distance of 44.97 million light years. years from us. The size in diameter is 112,000 St. years.
m 109- barred spiral galaxy SB(rs)bc. It is located at a distance of 54.96 million light years from Earth and is removed at 1142 km / s. The first discoverer - Pierre Mechain 04/12/1781. The galaxy has 3 satellites: galaxies UGC 6923, UGC 6940 and UGC 6969, possibly more. In March 1956 A supernova Ia erupted in the galaxy M 109. Photographic magnitude mB 10.6. Redshift +0.003496 ± 0.000010. The size in diameter is 120,000 St. years.
NGC 2768- elliptical galaxy (E6). First discoverer William Herschel 19.04. 1790 Redshift +0.004590 ± 0.000250. Speed - (+1373 ± 5) km / s. Photographic magnitude mB 10.9. Located at a distance of 62.89 million sv. years from Earth. The size in diameter is 117,200 St. years.
NGC 2841- spiral galaxy (Sb). The first discoverer - William Herschel 03/09/1788. It is located at a distance of 51.5 million sv. years from Earth. Redshift +0.002121 ± 0.000003. Photographic magnitude mB 10.1. Visible dimensions 8.1" × 3.5". Size across - 121,400 St. years.
NGC 2976- spiral galaxy Sc/P. The first discoverer - William Herschel 11/8/1801. The galaxy contains many dark bands and stellar clumps closer to the disk. It does not have distinct spiral arms due to gravitational interactions with neighboring galaxies M81 and M82. Photographic magnitude mB 10.8. Redshift +0.000040 ± 0.000070. It is located at a distance of 11.99 million sv. years from Earth. Size across - 20 600 St. years.
NGC 3077- spiral galaxy (Sd). The first discoverer - William Herschel 11/08/1801. The galaxy has an active nucleus. The galaxy is at a distance of 12.96 million light years. years. Photographic magnitude mB 10.6 Apparent dimensions 5.2" × 4.7" Redshift +0.000040 ± 0.000013. The size in diameter is 19,600 St. years.
NGC 3184- barred spiral galaxy (SBc). The first discoverer was William Herschel on March 18, 1787. The galaxy is located at a distance of about 36.84 million sv. years from Earth. NGC 3184 has a high abundance of heavy elements. In 1999, a type II supernova erupted in this galaxy; in addition, NGC 3184 has a high content of heavy metals. Redshift 0.001975. The size in diameter is 79,400 St. years.
NGC 3198- barred spiral galaxy (SBc). The first discoverer was William Herschel on 01/15/1788. Visible dimensions 8.5" × 3.3" Photographic magnitude mB 10.9. It is located at a distance of 47.93 million sv. years. The size in diameter is 118,600 St. years.
NGC 3359- barred spiral galaxy (SBc). The first discoverer was William Herschel on November 28, 1793. Apparent dimensions 7.2" × 4.4" Photographic magnitude mB 11.0 Redshift +0.003376 ± 0.000007. It is located at a distance of 42.38 million sv. years. from the earth. The size in diameter is 88,800 St. years.
NGC 3675- spiral galaxy (Sb). The first discoverer - William Herschel 01/14/1788. Visible dimensions 5.9" × 3.1" Photographic magnitude mB 10.8. Redshift +0.002542 ± 0.000033. It is located at a distance of 67.97 million sv. years from Earth. The size in diameter is 116,800 St. years.
NGC 3726- barred spiral galaxy (SBc). The first discoverer was William Herschel on 02/05/1788. Apparent dimensions 6.0" × 4.1" Photographic magnitude mB 10.9 Redshift +0.002872 ± 0.000027
NGC 3938- spiral galaxy (Sc). Three supernova explosions were registered in the galaxy: SN 1961U, SN 1964L and SN 2005ay. The number of objects registered in NGC 3938 is 164 objects. The galaxy is located at a distance of about 43 million sv. years from Earth. Apparent dimensions 5.4" × 4.9" Photographic magnitude mB 10.8
NGC 3953- spiral galaxy SBbc. The first discoverer was William Herschel on April 12, 1789. Two supernova explosions were registered in the galaxy: SN 2001dp and SN 2006bp. Apparent dimensions 6.9" × 3.6" Photographic magnitude mB 10.6 Redshift +0.003509 ± 0.000027
NGC 4051- spiral galaxy SBbc. The first discoverer was William Herschel on 02/06/1788. The center of the spiral galaxy NGC 4051 is a supermassive black hole, which ejects from 2 to 5 percent of the matter accreting onto it. Visible dimensions 5.2" × 3.9" Photographic magnitude mB 10.8. Redshift +0.002336
NGC 4605- spiral galaxy SBc/P. The first discoverer was William Herschel on April 19, 1790. Apparent dimensions 5.9" × 2.4" Photographic magnitude mB 10.8 Redshift +0.000484 ± 0.000020. It is located at a distance of 17.59 million sv. years from Earth. The size in diameter is 30,200 St. years.
IC 2574(Coddington Nebula) is a dwarf irregular galaxy. It has 2 irregularly shaped sleeves. The galaxy is 2 times smaller than the Milky Way. First discovered by Edward Foster Coddington in 1898. 90% of the galaxy is dark matter. The galaxy is at a distance of 11.76 million sv. years. Visible dimensions 12.3" × 5.9". The size in diameter is 44,040 St. years
coming constellation Big Dipper. I am sure it will not sound loud that this constellation is the most recognizable in the entire northern hemisphere due to its 7 bright stars, shaped like a bucket.
Legend and history
The name of the constellation was in honor of the nymph Callisto. There are many different legends. One of them has the following content.
According to ancient Greek legend, Zeus saw a beautiful girl, the nymph Callisto, and fell in love with her. Callisto was one of the virgins who accompanied the goddess Diana the hunter. Zeus took the form of Diana and became close to Callisto. Seeing this, the real Diana sent her away from her eyes. Hera, the wife of Zeus, having learned about such an act, turned the nymph into a bear. The son of Callisto, Arkad, when he grew up, met his mother. But he did not recognize her in the form of a bear. Zeus, fearing that his son would kill his mother, placed both of them in the sky in the form of the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. But even in the sky, Callisto did not know peace. Hera begged the gods not to allow the she-bear to plunge into the ocean. Since then, the bear nymph has been circling the sky without setting below the horizon.
Ursa Major is one of the most ancient constellations of the starry sky. It has the same name among the Slavs, Indians, Greeks. Included in the starry sky catalog of Claudius Ptolemy "Almagest".
The seven stars of the Big Dipper make up a figure that forms an asterism bucket with a handle. But this is only a small part of the constellation itself.
Specifications
| Latin name | Ursa Major |
| Reduction | UMa |
| Square | 1280 sq. degrees (3rd place) |
| right ascension | From 7 h 58 m to 14 h 25 m |
| declination | From +29° to +73° 30′ |
| The brightest stars< 3 m) | |
| Number of stars brighter than 6 m | 125 |
| meteor showers |
|
| neighboring constellations | |
| constellation visibility | +90° to −16° |
| Hemisphere | Northern |
| Time for observation on the territory Belarus, Russia and Ukraine | March |
The most interesting objects to observe in the constellation Ursa Major
Constellation Ursa Major
1. Planetary nebula "Owl" (M 97)
With a mass of only 0.15 solar, it has a brightness of 9.9 m. It got its name in connection with the similarity with the eyes of an owl. It can only be detected with a professional telescope in good weather conditions. According to scientists, the age is about 6 thousand years. It is located on the bottom of the Ursa Major bowl:
The search for the planetary nebula "Owl"
2. Optically double star M 40
Charles Messier in the 18th century was looking for a nebula that Jan Hevelia mistakenly described, but in its place he discovered a faint double star. It was decided to catalog it under serial number 40 (M40). These are two stars with a brightness of 9 m and 9.3 m. As calculations show, this is an optical binary star, that is, both stars are not connected to each other in any way, but are located close along the line of sight. The location in the sky relative to the bucket is shown below:
3. Spiral galaxy M 101
Popularly a spiral galaxy M 101 nicknamed "Pinwheel". Has a brightness of 7.7 m. It cannot be observed through binoculars, due to the weak surface brightness. No matter how hard I tried, it didn't work. But already in amateur telescopes you can see the bright central part. The photo shows that M 101 asymmetric: the nucleus of the galaxy is far from the center of the disk. This galaxy has been well studied by scientists: it was observed in 1909, 1951 and 1970.
It is not difficult to find it in the starry sky, and beginners often begin to practice with it.
Spiral Galaxy "Pinwheel" (M 101)
4. Spiral galaxy M 108
A galaxy that can be found in semi-professional or professional telescopes. As a rule, it is searched for in a pair with the planetary nebula "Owl" (2), due to its close location. Has a brightness of 10.0 m .
5 Spiral Galaxy M 109
In some sources you can find its other name - "A vacuum cleaner". It is located not far from the gamma Ursa Major, and, despite the fact that it has a brightness of only 9.8 m, you can try to find it with a telescope. M 109 has at least three satellite galaxies of its own. Taking the star Fad (Fekda) as a reference point, we move smoothly and slowly to the west - after a few seconds we try to recognize and detect the desired galaxy:
M 109 or Galaxy "Vacuum Cleaner"
6. Pair of galaxies M 81 and M 82
Two adjacent galaxies M 81 and M 82
Probably the most key objects to observe in the constellation Ursa Major. First, they are not hard to find; secondly, both have an accessible magnitude for observation even in amateur telescopes: 6.9 m and 8.4 m, respectively; thirdly, with close proximity to each other at a small magnification, they can be seen simultaneously in the telescope lens, approximately, as shown in the photograph above. An example search route is shown below:
Above the Bode Nebula is the Cigar Galaxy
Considering both galaxies separately, it is worth adding that M81 or the Bode Nebula is a beautiful spiral galaxy. She deforms her "neighbor" with a gravitational field. Thanks to the Hubble telescope, it was possible to study 32 variable stars inside M81.
Galaxy M 82 or "Cigar" has an irregular shape (refers to) and is weaker compared to M81. Inside it is active star formation. At the center of the galaxy is a supermassive
19.10.2012
Ursa Major is one of the largest constellations known to modern astronomers. In the sky, it occupies an area of approximately 1280 square degrees, it includes 125 stars of different sizes, visible to the naked eye, without the use of additional means of observing the sky. Only two constellations have an area larger than Ursa Major. These are the constellations Hydra (1300 sq. degrees) and Virgo (1290 sq. degrees).
The seven stars that make up the Big Dipper Bucket have names that they were given in antiquity. Here's what it means to Arabic the names of these stars: Dubhe - bear, Merak - ridge, Fegda - thigh, Megrets - root of the tail, Aliot means - black horse, Mizar - sash or apron, Benetnash - leader of mourners. The most distant of these stars is Benetnash. The light comes from her to us for 815 years, from Aliot - 408 years, from Fegda - 163 years, from Dubhe - 105 years, from Mizar - 88 years, from Merak - 78 years and from Megrets - 63 years. Five stars out of seven (except Dubhe and Benetnash) belong to the so-called stellar stream, because they move in the same direction, at about the same speed.
The stars Dubhe and Benetnash are also moving, but just in the opposite direction. There are many double, beautiful stars in Ursa Major. Among them, the most famous and accessible to observation with the naked eye are Mizar and Alcor. These stars are rhetorically called "horse" and "rider". A person with sharp eyesight can see the "rider" separately from the "horse". Mizar is a star of the second magnitude, and Alcor is the fifth. The angular distance between them is about 12 min. arcs, which is quite resolvable to the eye. In turn, Mizar consists of two giant, very hot stars that revolve around a common center of mass with a fixed period of about 20,000 years. In addition, one of these stars is a spectroscopic binary.
In the constellation Ursa Major, in the area that is located between the stars Merak and Fegda, but closer to the first star, there is an interesting object to observe through a telescope - the bright galactic planetary nebula M 97. For its appearance the nebula received an interesting name - "Owl". At the center of this vast, beautiful nebula of gas is a faint star that measures 14th magnitude. This star probably exploded and shed a gaseous envelope that continues to expand. The integral brightness of the nebula is the 12th magnitude.
In the sky, it occupies a spot with a diameter of 3.4 arc minutes. This is a lot, considering the huge distance: its light has been coming to us for almost 7.5 thousand years. There are two significant clusters of galaxies in Ursa Major. One of them consists of 300 galaxies (although in the sky the diameter of the cluster is only 40 minutes of arc), it is 75 million light years away, and it is moving away from us at a speed of 11,800 kilometers per second. Another cluster consists of 400 galaxies and is moving away at a speed of 42 thousand kilometers per second. The cluster is 238 million light-years away.
> Ursa Major
| An object | Designation | Meaning of the name | Object type | magnitude |
| 1 | M40 | Not | double star | 8.40 |
| 2 | M81 | Bode Galaxy | spiral galaxy | 6.90 |
| 3 | M82 | Cigar | barred spiral galaxy | 8.40 |
| 4 | M97 | Owl Nebula | planetary nebula | 9.90 |
| 5 | M101 | pinwheel | spiral galaxy | 7.90 |
| 6 | M108 | Not | spiral galaxy | 10.00 |
| 7 | M109 | Not | spiral galaxy | 9.80 |
| 8 | Aliot | "Black Horse" | Blue and white subdwarf | 1.77 |
| 9 | Dubhe | "Big Bear's Back" | Blue and white subdwarf | 1.79 |
| 10 | Benetnash | "Leader of the Wailers" | blue subgiant | 1.86 |
| 11 | Mizar | "Belt" | blue subgiant | 2.27 |
| 12 | Merak | "Groin" | blue subgiant | 2.37 |
| 13 | Fekda | "Bear's Thigh" | blue subgiant | 2.44 |
| 14 | Psi Ursa Major | Not | orange giant | 3.01 |
| 15 | Iota Ursa Major | "Third Northern" | Blue subdwarf | 3.14 |
| 16 | Theta Ursa Major | Not | Double star system | 3.17 |
| 17 | Megrets | "The base of the tail" | blue subgiant | 3.31 |
| 18 | Omicron Ursa Major | "Bear face" | double star | 3.35 |
| 19 | Lambda Ursa Major | "Second North" | Blue subdwarf | 3.45 |
| 20 | Nude Ursa Major | "First Northern" | orange giant | 3.48 |
| 21 | Mu Ursa Major | "Second South" | blue subgiant | 3.57 |
| 22 | Kappa Ursa Major | Not | Double star system | 3.60 |
| 23 | X Ursa Major | Not | orange giant | 3.69 |
| 24 | Upsilon Ursa Major | Not | Double star system | 3.78 |
| 25 | Xi Ursa Major | "First South" | Double star system | 3.79 |
| 26 | Alcor | "Forgotten" | blue subgiant | 4.01 |
How to find constellation Ursa Major in the northern sky: a map of the starry sky, a description with a photo and a diagram, myth, facts, Messier objects, main stars, the Big Dipper.
Ursa Major - constellation, which is located in the northern sky and from Latin "Ursa Major" is translated as "big bear".
Ursa Major in the sky is the largest northern constellation and the third in the general list. Bright stars create an asterism recognizable by all - the Big Dipper, a photo of which can be found on the site. He was known in many cultures, so many myths were created. In the second century, Ptolemy cataloged it.
Myth, facts, position and map of the constellation Ursa Major
Ursa Major is not only a large, but also a very ancient constellation, which was mentioned by Homer in the Bible. There are so many stories and fairy tales around the world. The ancient Greeks believed that we are talking about Callisto - a beautiful nymph who took a vow of celibacy in the temple of Artemis. But Zeus fell in love with her, seduced her and her son Arkas appeared.
When Artemis found out about this, she drove Callisto away. But then the angry Hera (wife of Zeus) came into play. She was so offended by the betrayal that she turned the nymph into a bear. In this guise, the girl spent 15 years living in the forest and hiding from hunters. But Arkas grew up and one day they collided. Arkas was frightened and pulled out a spear, but Zeus managed in time and sent both of them into the sky with a whirlwind. Of course, this angered Hera even more. She asked the Ocean and Tethys not to let the bear swim in the northern waters. That is why Ursa Major never sets beyond the horizon in northern latitudes.
According to another story, the punishment came from Artemis. Many years later, Callisto and Arkas are captured together and travel to King Lycaon as a gift. But they escape and hide in the temple of Zeus. God saves them and sends them to heaven.
There is also a completely different myth about Adastreya. She was a nymph who took care of Zeus as an infant. His father Cronus obeyed the oracle's prediction (the child will overthrow the father) and killed all his children. But Rhea (mother) slipped a stone instead of Zeus and saved the baby. Adastraya, along with Ida, fed and looked after him, and in gratitude he sent them to heaven.
The Romans called the constellation Ursa Major "Septentrio" - "seven plows of oxen", although only two of them displayed bulls, and the rest - a cart. In the Big Dipper they saw different animals: a camel, a shark, a skunk, as well as objects: a sickle, a cart, a canoe. The Chinese name the 7 stars Qiyh Sing after the government. The Hindus had 7 wise men, and the constellation is called Saptarshi.
In some Indian tales, Ursa Major depicted a large bear, and the stars were warriors who declared a hunt for him. It drops low in autumn, so it is believed that the leaves turn red due to blood dripping from the wounds of the animal.
In late American history, the constellation represented railway along which the slaves found their way north. There are many songs that the liberated sang in the south, dreaming of a new life.
Facts, position and map of the constellation Ursa Major
With an area of 1280 square degrees, the constellation Ursa Major is in third place in terms of size. Covers the second quadrant in the northern hemisphere (NQ2). Can be found in latitudes from +90° to -30°. Adjacent to , and .
| Big Dipper | |
|---|---|
| Lat. title | Ursa Major |
| Reduction | UMa |
| Symbol | Big Dipper |
| right ascension | from 7 h 58 m to 14 h 25 m |
| declination | from +29° to +73° 30’ |
| Square | 1280 sq. degrees (3rd place) |
| brightest stars (value< 3 m ) |
|
| meteor showers |
|
| neighboring constellations |
|
| The constellation is visible at latitudes from +90° to -16°. The best time for observation is March. |
|
The main stars of the constellation Ursa Major
You could see in the photo what the constellation Ursa Major looks like in the sky, but let's study its stars and the famous asterism.
Asterism - Big Dipper
The Big Dipper is one of the most recognizable asterisms in the night sky and has been featured in many cultures. In addition, it is also useful in navigation because it indicates the path to polar star, which is part of the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor).
If you follow an imaginary line from Merak to Dubhe and continue the arc, you will reach the Pole Star.
In the same way, an imaginary line leads to the bright star Arcturus (Boötes) and Spica (Virgo).
Ursa Major consists of 7 stars: Dubhe (Alpha), Merak (Beta), Fekda (Gamma), Megrets (Delta), Aliot (Epsilon), Mizar (Zeta) and Alkaid (Eta).
Aliot(Epsilon Ursa Major) is the brightest star in the constellation (A0pCr) with an apparent visual magnitude of 1.76 and a distance of 81 light years. It stands at the 31st position in brightness among all stars. The spectrum resembles a Canis Alpha-2 type variable with fluctuations in spectral lines of 5.1 days.
Included in the Ursa Major Moving Group of Stars (general speed and origin). In 1869, the group was found by the English astronomer Richard A. Proctor, who guessed that all the stars of the constellation, except for Alkaid and Dubhe, share a common regular movement, heading towards a point in the constellation Sagittarius.
The traditional name comes from the Arabic word alyat - "fat tail of a sheep" (the star is in a bear's tail).
Dubhe(Alpha Ursa Major) is a spectroscopic double star (K1 II-III) with an apparent magnitude of 1.79 and a distance of 123 light years. The companion is a main sequence star (F0 V) with an orbital period of 44.4 years at a distance of 23 AU.
At 900,000 a.u. a binary system is located from the main pair, which makes the star a four-star system.
The name comes from the Arabic dubb - "bear". Not included in the Ursa Major Moving Group of Stars.
Merak(Beta Ursa Major) is a main sequence star (A1 V) with a visual magnitude of 2.37 and a distance of 79.7 light years. There is a dusty disk that occupies 27% of the earth's mass.
The star is 2.7 times more massive than the Sun, 2.84 times larger in radius, and 68 times brighter. It is a member of the Ursa Major Moving Group of Stars and is a suspected variable star.
The name is translated from Arabic as "loins".
Alkaid(Eta Ursa Major) is a young main sequence star (B3 V) with an apparent visual magnitude of 1.85 and a distance of 101 light years. It ranks third in brightness in the constellation and 35th among all stars. It is the easternmost star in the asterism. At surface temperature at 20,000 K it can be seen with the naked eye. Reaches 6 solar masses and is 700 times brighter. Does not belong to the Ursa Major Moving Group of Stars.
Despite its position in brightness, Bayer named it "Eta" because he named the stars from west to east. The name is taken from the Arabic phrase qā "id bināt na" sh, which means "leader of the daughters of the pier."
Fekda(Gamma Ursa Major) is a main sequence star (A0 Ve) with a visual magnitude of 2.438 and a distance of 83.2 light years. It has a gas envelope that adds emission lines to its spectrum. Age - 300 million years. It is the lower left star in the Dipper and is 8.5 light-years distant from the Mizar-Alcor system. Refers to the Moving Group of Ursa Major.
The traditional name comes from the Arabic phrase fakhð ad-dubb, "bear's thigh".
Megrets(Delta Ursa Major) is a main sequence star (A3 V) with a visual magnitude of 3.312 and a distance of 58.4 light years. 63% more solar mass and 14 times brighter. There is an excess of infrared radiation, indicating disk debris in orbit.
Of the 7 bright stars, this is the weakest. "Megrets" is translated from Arabic as "base" (the base of the bear's tail).
Mizar(Zeta Ursa Major) - a system of two double stars, located in second place from the end. The apparent magnitude is 2.23, and the distance is 82.8 light years. Became the first photographed double star. It happened in 1857 thanks to the American photographer and inventor John A. Whipple and the astronomer George P. Bond. They used a wet collodion plate and a 15-inch refractor telescope at the Harvard College Observatory. Bond also photographed the star Vega (Lyra) in 1850.
The name comes from the Arabic mīzar - "belt".
Alcor(80 Ursa Major) - visual companion for Mizar (A5V) Both stars are sometimes referred to as "Horse and Rider". The visual magnitude is 3.99, and the distance is 81.7 light years. She is also called Suha ("forgotten") and Arundhati in India. In 2009, they found a binary system.
Belongs to the Moving group of stars Ursa Major. The distance between it and Mizar is 1.1 light years.
W Ursa Major is a binary system represented by nearby stars with an orbital period of 0.3336 days. They are so close that they outer shells are in direct contact. Periodically, they outshine each other, and reduce the brightness. The apparent magnitude of the system fluctuates between 7.75 and 8.48. Spectral class - F8V.
This is the prototype for both the W variables of Ursa Major.
Messier 40(M40, Winnecke 4, WNC 4) is a binary star with fluctuations in apparent visual magnitude from 9.55 to 10.10. Located 510 light years away. It was registered in 1764 by Charles Messier, who was looking for a nebula previously reported by Jan Hevelius. In 1863, the star was discovered by Friedrich August Theodor Winnecke.
47 Ursa Major- a main sequence star (G1V) with an apparent magnitude of 5.03 and a distance of 45.9 light years. It is a solar analogue with a similar mass, slightly hotter and reaches 110% iron.
In 1996, a planet 2.53 times the size of Jupiter was found. Two more planets were discovered in 2002 and 2010.
Nu and Xi Ursa Major - "first jump"
Alula Northern (Nu Ursa Major) is a double star visible to the naked eye. The apparent magnitude is 3.490, and the distance is 399 light years. This is a giant (K3 III), whose radius is 57 times greater than the sun and 775 times brighter. The name "Alula Borealis" comes from the Arabic word al-Ūlā - meaning "first (jump)", and the Latin "Borealis" - northern.
Alula South (Xi Ursa Major) is a star system discovered in 1780 by William Herschel. It is represented by main sequence dwarfs (G0 Ve) with a combined magnitude of 3.79 (4.32 and 4.84), and a distance of 29 light years.
This is a variable star RS Canis Venichi (near binary stars with large spots created by the active chromosphere). Spots cause the brightness to change by 0.2 magnitudes.
Each of the two objects of the Xi system acts as a spectroscopic twin and is accompanied by a low-mass companion. In 1828, Xi became the first binary star whose orbit could be calculated.
Nu and Xi are the first of three star pairs, which the ancient Arabs called "gazelle jumps".
Taniya North (Lambda) and Taniya South (Mu) - "second jump"
Lambda Ursa Major is a star (A2 IV - losing mass and turning into a giant) with an apparent magnitude of 3.45 and a distance of 138 light years.
Mu Ursa Major is a red giant (M0) located 230 light years away. The visual magnitude is 3.06. It is a semi-regular variable star whose brightness ranges from 2.99 to 3.33. Accompanied by a visual companion 1.5 AU distant.
Talita North (Iota) and Talita South (Kappa) - "the third jump"
Iota Ursa Major is a star system represented by two double stars: white subgiant (A7 IV), which is a spectroscopic binary object, and stars of 9th and 10th magnitude. When the B component was noticed in 1841, the two binary stars were separated by 10.7 arcseconds. Now this distance is 4.5 arc seconds. The orbital period is 818 years. The system is 47.3 light years distant from us.
Kappa Ursa Major is a double star represented by two A-type main sequence dwarfs with visual magnitudes of 4.2 and 4.4. The apparent magnitude of the system is 3.60, and the distance is 358 light years.
Muscida(Omicron Ursa Major) is a multiple star system (G4 II-III - between a giant and a bright giant) with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.35 and a distance of 179 light years. The traditional name means "snout".
Groombridge 1830- subdwarf (G8V), located at 29.7 light years. In the early 19th century, it was found and recorded by the British astronomer Stephen Groombridge (published in 1838).
At the time of discovery, it was the star with the highest proper motion. Went to third after discovering Kapteyn's Star and Barnard's Star.
It is a halo star moving in the opposite direction of the galaxy's rotation. Usually such specimens are poor in metal, because they formed at an earlier age of the galaxy. Most halo stars are located above or below the galactic plane. Age - 10 billion years. They have highly eccentric orbits and high space velocity.
Lalande 21185- a red dwarf (M2V) with an apparent magnitude of 7.520 (cannot be found without technology) and a distance of 8.11 light years. This is the fourth closest star system to ours after Alpha Centauri, Barnard's Star and Wolf 359. In 19900 years, it will approach the Sun at 4.65 light years.
This is the BY Dragon variable and is a known X-ray source.
Psi Ursa Major- an orange giant (K1 III) with a visual magnitude of 3.01 and a distance of 144.5 light years. The Chinese call him Tian Zang or Ta Zun - "extremely honorable."
Celestial objects of the constellation Ursa Major
Bode Galaxy(M81, NGC 3031) is a bright, large spiral galaxy 11.8 light-years away. Apparent magnitude - 6.94 (very popular among beginners and amateur astronomers).
The apparent size is 26.9 x 14.1 arc minutes. In March 1993, a supernova was observed - SN 1993J.
It was discovered by German astronomer Johann Bode in 1774. In 1779, Charles Messier re-identified her and added her to the catalog.
It is the largest galaxy in the M81 group (34 galaxies), located 10 degrees northwest of the star Dubhe (Alpha Ursa Major).
It interacts with the neighboring galaxies Messier 82 and with the smaller NGC 3077. Because of this, all lost hydrogen gas and formed gaseous filamentary structures. In addition, star formation has been activated, caused by interstellar gas entering the centers of Messier 82 and NGC 3077.
Galaxy Cigar(M82, NGC 3034) is an edge galaxy with an apparent magnitude of 8.41 and a distance of 11.5 million light years.
Star formation in the galactic core is 10 times faster than star formation in the entire Milky Way. M82 is also 5 times brighter. In 2005, Hubble found 197 massive star clusters in the central region.
M82 displays infrared excess and is the brightest galaxy in the sky when viewed in infrared light.
It is believed to have experienced at least one tidal collision with Messier 81 in the past. Because of this, over the past 200 million years, great amount gas and increased star formation by a factor of 10.
Owl Nebula(M97, NGC 3587) is a planetary nebula with an apparent magnitude of 9.9 and a distance of 2600 light years. In the center is a star of the 16th magnitude.
In 1781, the nebula was discovered by Pierre Méchain. Age - 8000 years. It got its name because it looks like an owl's eye when viewed through a telescope.
pinwheel(M101, NGC 5457) is a grand design spiral galaxy observed by the face. The apparent magnitude is 7.86, and the distance is 20.9 million light years. In August 2011, they found a type Ia supernova (an explosion of a white dwarf star) - SN 2011fe.
Pierre Méchain discovered the galaxy in 1781 and was later added to the catalog by Charles Messier. Méchain described it as "a nebula without a star, very obscure and rather large - from 6" to 7" in diameter".
Covers 170,000 light years in diameter (70% more Milky Way). Hosts a number of large, bright H II regions and hot newborn stars.
There are 5 companion galaxies: NGC 5474, NGC 5204, NGC 5477, NGC 5585 and Holmberg IV. Most likely, the grand design was created due to contact with them.
(M108, NGC 3556) is a barred spiral galaxy discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781. We see almost the edge. It has a visual magnitude of 10.7 and a distance of 45,000 light years.
It is an isolated member of the Ursa Major Cluster (within the Virgo Supercluster). M108 contains approximately 290 globular clusters and 83 X-ray sources.
In 1969, a type 2 supernova, 1969B, was observed.
(M109, NGC 3992) is a barred spiral galaxy with an apparent magnitude of 10.6 and a distance of 83.5 million light-years. It is located southeast of Gamma Ursa Major. In 1781, Pierre Mechain found it, and after 2 years Charles Messier added it to the catalog.
In 1956, a type Ia supernova, SN 1956A, was discovered. There are also 3 satellite galaxies: UGC 6923, UGC 6940 and UGC 6969.
It is the brightest galaxy in the M109 group (contains over 50 galaxies).
NGC 5474 is a dwarf galaxy located near M101, with which it interacts. Shows signs of a spiral structure. The visual magnitude is 11.3, and the distance is 22 million light years.
Due to tidal interactions with M101, the disk shifts away from the core and activates star birth. You can explore the constellation Ursa Major more closely by using our online 3D models and telescope. For independent search, a static or moving map of the starry sky is suitable.
