Ursa Minor
Ursae Minoris · UMi
Ursa Minor contains Polaris, the current North Star, located less than a degree from the north celestial pole. Polaris is a Cepheid variable and a crucial navigational reference. The Little Dipper shape mirrors the Big Dipper on a smaller scale.
Location in the Sky
When to Observe
Ursa Minor is best observed during June. It is located in the NQ3 quadrant and is primarily visible from the northern hemisphere. The constellation contains 7 main stars forming its asterism, with 23 Bayer/Flamsteed designated stars in total. Its brightest star is Polaris.
Mythology & History
In Greek mythology, Ursa Minor represents Arcas, son of Callisto and Zeus, transformed into a little bear. In another tradition, it represents a nymph who nursed infant Zeus on Crete. The Phoenicians used this constellation for navigation, recognizing the importance of its pole star.
Stars in Ursa Minor
4 cataloged stars