Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • Ursa Major: A large and prominent constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is one of the most recognizable star patterns and is notable for containing the asterism known as the Big Dipper (or the Plough). The constellation's name is Latin for "Greater Bear."

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Ursa Major is visible throughout the year in the northern hemisphere.
  • The seven brightest stars of Ursa Major form the shape of the Big Dipper.
  • Ancient myths from many cultures feature stories about Ursa Major.

Advanced Usage

• Astronomical Context: Used to identify a specific region of the night sky for navigation or astronomical study.
  • The pointer stars in the bowl of Ursa Major's Big Dipper point toward Polaris, the North Star.

Variants and Related Words

• The Great Bear: A common English name for Ursa Major.
• The Big Dipper: The well-known asterism (a recognizable pattern of stars) within Ursa Major.
• The Plough: A name for the Big Dipper asterism, commonly used in the UK and Ireland.
• Ursa Minor (Proper noun): The "Little Bear" constellation, which contains Polaris, the North Star.

Synonyms

• The Great Bear
• The Big Dipper (specifically refers to the asterism, not the entire constellation)

Related Phrases

• To follow the arc to Arcturus: A navigational phrase starting from the handle of the Big Dipper (in Ursa Major) to find the bright star Arcturus.

Noun

1. a constellation outside the zodiac that rotates around the North Star