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 18 May, and its whole figure rises above the horizon from 90°N to 1°S.

PolarisKochabPherkadMake a star map with constellations

Ursa Minor at a glance

Represents
the lesser bear
Highest at midnight
18 May
Highest at 9 pm
2 July
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 18 May and at 9 pm around 2 July. Each month it is highest about two hours earlier than the month before.

The times are local solar time. Clocks on summer time or daylight saving time read about one hour later.

When Ursa Minor is highest each month
DateHighest at
15 January08:10
15 February06:00
15 March04:10
15 April02:10
15 May00:10
15 June22:10
15 July20:10
15 August18:10
15 September16:10
15 October14:10
15 November12:10
15 December10:10

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 18 May, 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

The brightest stars in Ursa Minor
StarMagnitude
Polaris1.97
Kochab2.07

Meteor showers from Ursa Minor

The meteors of these showers seem to come from a point in Ursa Minor, called the radiant.

Meteor showers whose radiant is in Ursa Minor
ShowerPeakZenithal hourly rate
UrsidsAround 22 December10

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