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Dubhe is a multiple star system in the northern constellation of Ursa Major.It is formally designated Alpha Ursae Majoris, Latinised from α Ursae Majoris, [12] [13] Despite being designated "α" (), it is the second-brightest object in the constellation.
The Big Dipper seen from Fujian. The constellation of Ursa Major (Latin: Greater Bear) has been seen as a bear, a wagon, or a ladle.The "bear" tradition is Indo-European (appearing in Greek, as well as in Vedic India), [7] but apparently the name "bear" has parallels in Siberian or North American traditions.
Mizar, ζ Ursae Majoris, the second star in from the end of the handle of the Big Dipper, and the constellation's fourth-brightest star. Mizar, which means "girdle", forms a famous double star, with its optical companion Alcor (80 Ursae Majoris), the two of which were termed the "horse and rider" by the Arabs.
It is more familiar to northern hemisphere observers as one of the "pointer stars" in the Big Dipper, or the Plough (UK), which is a prominent asterism of seven stars that forms part of the larger constellation. Extending an imaginary straight line from this star through the nearby Alpha Ursae Majoris (Dubhe) extends to Polaris, the north star.
ζ Ursae Majoris Aa: Mizar: Member of the Big Dipper or the Plough (UK). The name is originally from Arabic: المئزر al-miʾzar ('apron, waistband, girdle'). Also called 禄 Lù ('Status'), one of the "Three Stars" in Chinese mythology. The Lù star is believed to be Zhang Xian, who lived during the Later Shu dynasty.
Dubhe and Merak (Alpha and Beta Ursae Majoris), the two stars at the end of the bowl of the Big Dipper are often called the Pointers: [18] a line from β to α and continued for about five times the distance between them arrives at the North Celestial Pole and the star Polaris (α UMi/Alpha Ursae Minoris), the North Star.
Phecda / ˈ f ɛ k d ə /, also called Gamma Ursae Majoris (γ Ursae Majoris, abbreviated Gamma UMa, γ UMa), [10] [11] is a star in the constellation of Ursa Major. Since 1943, the spectrum of this star has served as one of the stable anchor points by which other stars are classified. [ 12 ]
Megrez / ˈ m iː ɡ r ɛ z /, also called Delta Ursae Majoris (δ Ursae Majoris, abbreviated Delta UMa, δ UMa), [9] [10] is a star in the northern constellation of Ursa Major.With an apparent magnitude of +3.3, [2] it is the dimmest of the seven stars in the Big Dipper asterism.