Ursa major: Learn about the largest

Learn about the largest constellation in the northern hemisphere, also known as the Great Bear or the Big Dipper. Discover its brightest stars, prominent asterism, Messier objects, and meteor showers. Ursa Major is the “Great Bear” and one of the traditional Greek constellations described in Ptolemy of Alexandria’s 2nd century compilation of 48 constellations. The Big Dipper is called the Northern Dipper in ancient China and the Wagon in ancient Mesopotamia. Ursa Major Constellation – Features and Facts Let’s take a look at one of older and larger Constellations in our night sky. The Constellation Ursa Major , the largest constellation in the Northern Hemisphere and the third largest Constellation overall in the night sky. It fills an area of 1280 square degrees. Ursa Major , in astronomy, a constellation of the northern sky, at about 10 hours 40 minutes right ascension and 56° north declination. It was referred to in the Old Testament (Job 9:9; 38:32) and mentioned by Homer in the Iliad (xviii, 487). The Greeks identified this constellation with the nymph