Great Bear
Big Dipper's constellation
The Great Bear is the constellation Ursa Major, one of the most recognizable star patterns in the northern sky.
Its seven brightest stars form the Big Dipper (or Plough in British usage).
The name translates the Latin *Ursa Major*, which translates the Greek *Arktos Megale*—the bear that ancient cultures saw outlined in these stars.
Prominent stellar configuration
- Big DipperSeven-star northern asterism
- PloughUK name for asterism
- circumpolarAround the pole
- star patternArrangement of pointed shapes
pointers · Polaris · North Star · saucepan · ladle · stellar · stargazing · night sky
Navigating through physical spaces
- North StarPole-aligned celestial beacon
- PolarisCelestial north marker
- pointersIndicators that guide
- celestial navigationLocation-finding via astronomical observation
latitude · mariner · voyaging · circumpolar · bearing · stargazing · sextant · nocturnal
Jupiter's second-largest moon
- ZeusGreek sky god
- HeraOlympian marriage deity
- transformationThorough change in form
- ArtemisGreek hunting goddess
nymph · metamorphosis · Ovid · Greek · Roman · Iroquois · punishment · jealousy
asterism
Prominent stellar configuration
- Big DipperSeven-star northern asterism
- PloughUK name for asterism
- circumpolarAround the pole
star pattern · pointers · Polaris · North Star · saucepan · ladle · stellar · stargazing · night sky · celestial
wayfinding
Navigating through physical spaces
- North StarPole-aligned celestial beacon
- PolarisCelestial north marker
- pointersIndicators that guide
celestial navigation · latitude · mariner · voyaging · circumpolar · bearing · stargazing · sextant · nocturnal · compass
Callisto
Jupiter's second-largest moon
- ZeusGreek sky god
- HeraOlympian marriage deity
- transformationThorough change in form
Artemis · nymph · metamorphosis · Ovid · Greek · Roman · Iroquois · punishment · jealousy · ancient
- lakesLake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Superior, Lake Tahoe, Superior
- HersheyparkFahrenheit, Comet, Trailblazer, Midway, Frontier
- Wilderness AreasOkefenokee, Holy Cross, Wind River