What it looks like
Ursa Minor is a small northern constellation circling the celestial pole. Its seven brightest stars form the Little Dipper asterism, and the star at the end of its handle is Polaris — the North Star — which sits almost exactly above the Earth's north pole and has guided navigators for centuries.
Brightest stars
Ursa Minor is anchored by Polaris, a second-magnitude star that marks true north, with the rest of the Little Dipper considerably fainter.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polaris (α Ursae Minoris) | +1.98 | 433 ly | The North Star |
| Kochab (β Ursae Minoris) | +2.08 | 131 ly | — |
| Pherkad (γ Ursae Minoris) | +3.00 | 487 ly | — |
| Epsilon Ursae Minoris | +4.21 | 347 ly | — |
Mythology and history
In Greek myth, Ursa Minor is Arcas or Cynosura, one of the two bears placed in the sky by Zeus to honour Callisto and her son.
The two bears
Ursa Minor is traditionally identified with either Arcas, son of Callisto, or with Cynosura, a nymph who nursed the infant Zeus in a cave on Mount Ida. In the latter tradition, Zeus placed her in the sky as reward for her care. The Phoenicians used Ursa Minor as their primary navigational guide, and the star at the tip of its tail — Polaris — became the North Star because of its near-alignment with the celestial pole.
How to find it
Use the two pointer stars at the end of the Big Dipper's bowl; they point straight at Polaris, the tip of the Little Dipper's handle.
- Find the Big Dipper first, then follow the pointers to Polaris.
- Polaris sits almost exactly due north — its altitude equals your latitude.
- Circumpolar from most northern latitudes; not visible from the southern hemisphere.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- UMi
- Genitive
- Ursae Minoris
- Meaning
- The Little Bear
- Brightest star
- Polaris
- Main stars
- 7
- Area rank
- 56th
- Best visible
- June
- Declination
- +75°
- Meteor showers
- Ursids
- Neighbours
- Cepheus, Camelopardalis, Draco
Deep-sky objects
Ursa Minor is a relatively empty constellation. It contains the dwarf galaxy UGC 9749 (the Ursa Minor Dwarf), one of the Milky Way's faint satellite galaxies, and NGC 6217, a barred spiral galaxy.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Ursa Minor look like?
Ursa Minor is a northern constellation known as the Little Bear, whose seven brightest stars form the Little Dipper, with Polaris, the North Star, at the tip of its handle.
What is the brightest star in Ursa Minor?
The brightest star in Ursa Minor is Polaris, shining at around magnitude 1.98.
When is Ursa Minor best visible?
Ursa Minor is best seen from northern hemisphere during June.
What is the story behind Ursa Minor?
In Greek myth, Ursa Minor is Arcas or Cynosura, one of the two bears placed in the sky by Zeus to honour Callisto and her son.
Which constellations are near Ursa Minor?
Ursa Minor borders Cepheus, Camelopardalis and Draco.
Ursa Major
Draco