Ursa Minor, the Little Dipper and the North Star
Ursa Minor is one of the 88 constellations, and it represents the lesser bear. It is highest in the sky at midnight around May 18, and its whole figure rises above the horizon from 90°N to 1°S.
Ursa Minor at a glance
- Represents
- the lesser bear
- Highest at midnight
- May 18
- Highest at 9 pm
- July 2
- Seen whole from
- 90°N to 1°S
- Brightest star
- Polaris
- Stars in the figure
- 7 stars
- Origin
- Ptolemy's list, 2nd century
The Little Dipper
The stick figure of Ursa Minor is the Little Dipper: seven stars that form a small bowl and handle, with Polaris at the end of the handle. Kochab and Pherkad, the two bright stars at the end of the bowl, are known as the Guardians of the Pole.
The whole Little Dipper never sets north of 18°N, so from most of Europe and North America it is up on every clear night of the year.
Polaris, the North Star
Polaris sits 0.63° from the north celestial pole, the point that the sky turns around, so it hardly moves while the other stars circle it. Its height above the horizon is close to your latitude, and it cannot be seen south of 0.6°S.
The pole moves slowly because the Earth's axis wobbles. Polaris will come closest around 2100, 0.46° from the pole, and then slowly move away.
When to see Ursa Minor
Ursa Minor is highest in the sky at midnight around May 18 and at 9 pm around July 2. Each month it is highest about two hours earlier than the month before.
The times are local solar time. Clocks on daylight saving time read about one hour later.
| Date | Highest at |
|---|---|
| January 15 | 8:10 AM |
| February 15 | 6:00 AM |
| March 15 | 4:10 AM |
| April 15 | 2:10 AM |
| May 15 | 12:10 AM |
| June 15 | 10:10 PM |
| July 15 | 8:10 PM |
| August 15 | 6:10 PM |
| September 15 | 4:10 PM |
| October 15 | 2:10 PM |
| November 15 | 12:10 PM |
| December 15 | 10:10 AM |
Where to look for Ursa Minor
From the northern hemisphere
From 40°N, Ursa Minor never sets. It circles the pole and is highest around midnight on May 18, 50° above the northern horizon.
From the southern hemisphere
From 35°S, Ursa Minor never rises. You need to be north of 18°S to see any of it.
Brightest stars in Ursa Minor
Meteor showers from Ursa Minor
The meteors of these showers seem to come from a point in Ursa Minor, called the radiant.
| Shower | Peak | Zenithal hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Ursids | Around December 22 | 10 |
Ursa Minor in myth and history
Ursa Minor is one of the 48 constellations that the astronomer Ptolemy listed in the 2nd century.
Constellations next to Ursa Minor
Find Ursa Minor in your sky
Questions about Ursa Minor
Ursa Minor is highest in the sky at midnight around May 18 and at 9 pm around July 2. The weeks around those dates are the best time to look.
The whole figure of Ursa Minor rises above the horizon from 90°N to 1°S, and at least part of it rises from 90°N to 18°S.
Polaris is the brightest star in Ursa Minor, at magnitude 1.97.
Ursa Minor represents the lesser bear. Ursa Minor is one of the 48 constellations that the astronomer Ptolemy listed in the 2nd century.
No. Polaris has magnitude 1.97, and at least 44 stars are brighter. The brightest is Sirius, at magnitude -1.44.