Page last updated Apr 12, 2020
Ursa Major is one of the 48 ancient constellations recorded by Ptolemy.
Historical Maps of Ursa Major
Above, From Bayer's 1603 Uranometria (Image Credit and © Tartu Observatory Virtual Museum; used by permission)
Below, from Lalande and Mechain's 1795 edition of the Fortin-Flamsteed Celestial Atlas
(Map Image Credit Smithsonian Institution Library; in public domain per CC0 usage)
Modern Map of Ursa Major
Modified version of Wikimedia Commons map by Torsten Bronger
Constellations Bordering Ursa Major
(to be added in the next iteration of this page)
Stars in Ursa Major
Stars that have common names often have multiple names, so the common names shown (if any) cannot be considered authoritative. Right ascension and declination are given in 2000.0 coordinates.
α UMa (Dubhe)
β UMa (Merak)
γ UMa (Phecda = Phad)
δ UMa (Megrez)
ε UMa (Alioth)
ζ UMa (Mizar)
η UMa (Alkaid)
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