Ursa Major, the Lesser Bear

Rightfully named, Ursa Minor, meaning “the lesser bear” in Latin, is the smaller counterpart of Ursa Major and is also well-known by its more common name, the Little Dipper. This constellation was created by Thales of Miletus, a philosopher, and astronomer who lived between 625 and 545 BC as one of the Seven Sages of Greece. However, it was only cataloged in the 2nd century.

Ursa Minor is home to the star Polaris, the North Star, located near the northern celestial pole. In total, Ursa Minor is home to five officially named stars: Baekdu, Kochab, Pherkad, Polaris, and Yildun.

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NAME: The Lesser Bear

AREA (in square degrees): 255.864

QUADRANT: NQ3

VISIBLE BETWEEN LATITUDES: 90°N – 10°S