Ursa Major

Abbreviation: UMa
Genitive: Ursae Majoris
Right Ascension: 10.67 hours
Declination: 55.38 degrees

Ursa Major, the Great Bear, is visible in the Northern Hemisphere all year long.

Ursa Major is the best known of the constellation and it appears in every reference known.

Calisto was changed to a bear because of Zeus's jealousy and transferred her to the sky. This is improbable, as the constellation was already well established before this time.

The drawings all show a bear with a long tail, again not likely correct since bears have no tails. The most likely explanation for the bears and one which I find intriguing is the fact that Native Americans called the constellations the bear, but instead of the tail they depict the bear being chased around the pole by seven braves.

Ursa Minor is a cub of the mother bear, all of this I find fascinating as it is the same story in Asia, could it be that the stories are similar because of common ancestry or contact between the two races?

Bright Stars | Deep Sky | Other Deep Sky | Variable Stars | Double Stars

Best Known Stars

(Yale Bright Star Catalog)

Common Name or Bayer Number 1	RA	DEC	Magnitude 2
ALIOTH	12.00:54.00:1.74	+55.00:57.00:35.47	1.77
DUBHE	11.00:3.00:43.66	+61.00:45.00:3.22	1.79
ALKAID	13.00:47.00:32.43	+49.00:18.00:47.95	1.86
MIZAR	13.00:23.00:55.53	+54.00:55.00:31.38	2.27
MERAK	11.00:1.00:50.48	+56.00:22.00:56.65	2.37
PHECDA	11.00:53.00:49.83	+53.00:41.00:41.13	2.44
PSI UMA	11.00:9.00:39.79	+44.00:29.00:54.60	3.01
TANIA AUSTRALIS	10.00:22.00:19.74	+41.00:29.00:58.26	3.05
TALITHA	8.00:59.00:12.44	+48.00:2.00:30.09	3.14
THE UMA	9.00:32.00:51.41	+51.00:40.00:38.38	3.17
MEGREZ	12.00:15.00:25.56	+57.00:1.00:57.42	3.31
MUSCIDA	8.00:30.00:15.87	+60.00:43.00:5.44	3.36
TANIA BOREALIS	10.00:17.00:5.79	+42.00:54.00:51.81	3.45
ALULA BOREALIS	11.00:18.00:28.73	+33.00:5.00:39.44	3.48
KAP UMA	9.00:3.00:37.52	+47.00:9.00:23.56	3.60
23 UMA	9.00:31.00:31.71	+63.00:3.00:42.70	3.67
CHI UMA	11.00:46.00:3.01	+47.00:46.00:45.90	3.71
UPS UMA	9.00:50.00:59.36	+59.00:2.00:19.45	3.80
24 UMA	9.00:34.00:28.87	+69.00:49.00:49.24	4.56
RHO UMA	9.00:2.00:32.70	+67.00:37.00:46.66	4.76
55 UMA	11.00:19.00:7.90	+38.00:11.00:7.99	4.78
36 UMA	10.00:30.00:37.58	+55.00:58.00:50.01	4.84
47 UMA	10.00:59.00:27.97	+40.00:25.00:48.98	5.05
37 UMA	10.00:35.00:9.69	+57.00:4.00:57.56	5.16
61 UMA	11.00:41.00:3.02	+34.00:12.00:5.79	5.33
74 UMA	12.00:29.00:57.33	+58.00:24.00:20.71	5.35
32 UMA	10.00:18.00:2.05	+65.00:6.00:30.03	5.82
58 UMA	11.00:30.00:31.13	+43.00:10.00:23.67	5.94
76 UMA	12.00:41.00:33.90	+62.00:42.00:46.88	6.07

Deep Sky Objects

(PAS Catalog)

M-101

M-101 A large face-on spiral galaxy with low surface brightness. It is about 7' in diameter, with a brighter core surrounded by an envelope which sometimes can be seen to be spiral arms.

M-108

M-108 Large, about 10'x3' extended ENE-WSW. This galaxy has an evident central bulge, a stellar nucleus, and tapering ends. The western end appears to be tapered more than the eastern end, and dark markings are seen along its northern edge.

M-109

M-109 8'x4', oriented ENE-WSW, with a faint stellar nucleus. Spiral arms can be seen leading to the north and south.

M-40

M-40 is not actually a deep sky object at all, rather is is a double star.

M-81

M-81 This is a large and beautiful spiral galaxy, 10' long and 4' wide, oriented NNW-SSE. It has a bright core with a stellar nucleus, and spiral arms can be seen, especially with averted vision.

M-82

M-82 One of my favorite objects! This peculiar galaxy is 10'x2-3', oriented NE-SW. It has slightly tapering ends, and a great amount of mottling across its length can be seen. The southern edge appears flatter, and it seems to be 'pinched' near the center on this side. Fascinating.

M-97

M-97 The Owl Nebula. This large planetary nebula is almost 3' in diameter, and appears as a gray puff of light, slightly brighter in the center. At times, especially with averted vision, the 'eyes' of the owl can be seen as two slightly darker spots.

NGC-2841

NGC 2841 A very pretty galaxy. 7'x2-3', oriented NNE-SSW, with a sharply brighter core and stellar nucleus. Dark markings can be seen, especially east of the nucleus.

NGC-3079

NGC 3079 Fascinating. 6'x2' with an obvious central bulge and extended N- S. Broadly concentrated to the center with pointed ends. At times, the ends appear curled: the north end to the west, and the south end to the east. Very pretty.

NGC-3631

NGC 3631 Large and impressive, this galaxy is roughly circular and 5' in diameter. The core is about 1' in diameter and has a stellar nucleus. Averted vision shows arms spiraling from the north to the east.

Other Deep Sky Objects

(Saguaro Astronomy Club Catalog)

Only Objects less than 10.0 Mag.

Object	R.A.	Dec.	Object Type 3	Mag.	Uranometria	Tirion
NGC 2768	09 11.5	+60 03	GALXY	09.9	044	02
NGC 2841	09 22.0	+50 59	GALXY	09.2	044	02
NGC 3031	09 55.6	+69 04	GALXY	06.9	023	02
NGC 3034	09 55.8	+69 41	GALXY	08.4	023	02
NGC 3077	10 03.3	+68 44	GALXY	09.9	023	02
NGC 3184	10 18.3	+41 25	GALXY	09.8	072	06
NGC 3556	11 11.5	+55 40	GALXY	10.0	046	02
NGC 3992	11 57.6	+53 23	GALXY	09.8	047	02
Cr 285	12 03.0	+58 00	OPNCL	0.4	047	02
Winnecke 4	12 21.9	+58 06	2STAR	09	047	02
NGC 5457	14 03.3	+54 22	GALXY	07.9	049	02

Variable Stars

(General Catalog of Variable Stars)

Only Objects <= 8.0 magnitude

GCVS ID	R.A. (hh mm ss.ss)	Dec. (deg mm ss)	Variable Type 4	Mag. Min	Mag. Max
U UMa	10.00:11.00:41.70	+60.00:14.00:3.00	null	6.25	6.20
ST UMa	11.00:25.00:6.90	+45.00:27.00:38.00	SRB	7.60	6.00
TV UMa	11.00:42.00:58.10	+36.00:10.00:18.00	SRB	7.34	6.75
VW UMa	10.00:55.00:38.00	+70.00:15.00:26.00	SR	7.71	6.85
VY UMa	10.00:41.00:37.00	+67.00:40.00:30.00	LB	7.00	5.87
AW UMa	11.00:27.00:25.60	+30.00:14.00:35.00	EW/KW	7.13	6.83
CG UMa	9.00:18.00:3.90	+56.00:54.00:45.00	LB	5.95	5.47
CO UMa	11.00:6.00:34.40	+36.00:34.00:51.00	LB	5.95	5.74
CQ UMa	13.00:38.00:31.70	+57.00:27.00:35.00	ACV	6.30	6.28
CR UMa	13.00:44.00:43.80	+54.00:40.00:55.00	ACV	5.70	5.65
CS UMa	9.00:43.00:0.10	+57.00:21.00:32.00	LB:	0.16	6.78
CX UMa	11.00:21.00:11.50	+37.00:30.00:35.00	DSCTC:	0.02	6.80
DD UMa	9.00:12.00:36.20	+54.00:13.00:47.00	DSCTC	0.03	5.02
DK UMa	9.00:30.00:5.80	+70.00:3.00:6.00	RS:	0.05	4.56
DL UMa	9.00:32.00:20.50	+69.00:51.00:41.00	DSCTC+E	0.05	7.55
DN UMa	11.00:52.00:30.00	+46.00:45.00:18.00	EA	6.73	6.63
DP UMa	11.00:59.00:34.80	+43.00:19.00:23.00	DSCTC	0.03	5.21
EE UMa	11.00:27.00:41.60	+46.00:55.00:59.00	ELL:	0.16	6.35
EH UMa	13.00:51.00:27.50	+52.00:34.00:6.00	LB	6.87	6.69
EN UMa	10.00:17.00:16.50	+69.00:0.00:0.00	DSCTC	5.88	5.83
EO UMa	10.00:42.00:30.50	+41.00:34.00:17.00	DSCTC	7.15	7.07
EP UMa	11.00:6.00:30.90	+67.00:28.00:55.00	ACVO	0.01	6.06
ET UMa	10.00:20.00:33.00	+65.00:49.00:12.00	ACV	0.05	4.91
eps UMa	12.00:51.00:50.10	+56.00:13.00:51.00	ACV	0.02	1.76
ksi UMa	11.00:15.00:31.20	+31.00:48.00:39.00	RS	0.01	4.38
ups UMa	9.00:47.00:27.10	+59.00:16.00:30.00	DSCT	3.86	3.68

Double Stars

(Saguaro Astronomy Club Catalog)

Only Objects <= 8.0 magnitude

Name	R.A. (hh mm.m)	Dec. (deg mm)	Mag 5	Sep 6	PA 7	Tirion	Uranometria
STF 1258	08 43.5	48 51	7.5, 7.8	10.00	331	6	70
STF 1315	09 12.8	61 40	7.7, 7.7	24.80	26	2	23/ 44
STF 1415	10 17.9	71 04	6.7, 7.3	16.70	167	2	24
STF 1427	10 22.0	43 54	7.5, 8.0	9.40	214	6	72
STT 108	11 12.6	35 48	6.3, 7.9	138.70	70	6	106
STF 1520	11 16.0	52 46	6.6, 7.9	12.70	344	2	46
STF 1523	11 18.2	31 32	4.3, 4.8	3.00	129	6	106
STF 1543	11 29.1	39 20	5.3, 7.8	346.30	252	6	73/ 106
STF 1559	11 38.8	64 20	6.8, 7.8	2.00	322	2	25
67 UMA	12 02.1	43 02	5.1, 6.8	310.50	52	7	74
STF 1695	12 56.3	54 05	6.0, 7.9	3.70	280	2	48
STF 1744	13 23.9	54 55	2.4, 4.0	14.40	152	2	48
STF 1831	14 16.1	56 43	7.0, 6.6	107.70	222	2	49