Is The Big Dipper a Constellation?

Many people mistakenly refer to the Big Dipper as a constellation. The Dipper is more accurately described as an asterism — a well-known grouping of stars that have not been officially classified as a constellation. In fact, the seven stars of the Big Dipper are actually part of a larger constellation known as Ursa Major, or the Big Bear.

According to Greek mythology, Ursa Major was once the beautiful maiden Callisto, whom the god Zeus had an affair with. In order to protect her and their son, Arcas, from his jealous wife Hera, Zeus turned Callisto and Arcas into bears. He then picked up the bears by their short, stubby tails and threw them into the sky.

Even though the Big Dipper is not technically a constellation, it’s still one of the first things that I notice in the night sky. One thing that the Big Dipper is really good at is locating the North Star.

Locating Polaris is easy on any clear night. Just find the Big Dipper. The two stars on the end of the Dipper's "cup" point the way to Polaris, which is the tip of the handle of the Little Dipper, or the tail of the little bear in the constellation Ursa Minor.

Depending on the season, the Big Dipper can be seen either up high in the sky or down low by the horizon. One tip to remember is “Spring up, Fall down”.