How to find the Ursa Minor

The Little Bear is known in Latin as ursa, a constellation that is part of the northern hemisphere. It consists mainly of 7 bright stars: 4 that make up the car and 3 that make up the handle. It is possibly the most popular constellation in the northern hemisphere because it contains one of the most famous stars: the Pole Star, which will be key to locating the lesser bear. For centuries, this star in particular has been a lighted beacon in the starry sky with which sailors and travelers have been guided through sea and land.

If you want to know a bit more about astronomy, we'll show you how to find the Little Bear .

Aspects to consider

Before starting to direct our gaze to the sky, we must find ourselves in a place where we can not be influenced by the effect of light pollution. Mainly cities remain with a high level of brightness and brightness that prevents seeing the sky with all its majesty. As a result, it is possible that only a few stars are glimpsed.

We recommend that you take the opportunity to look for the Little Dipper when you are in the countryside or in natural environments where there are no large concentrations of light bulbs at night. If you have no other option but to find the Ursa Minor in the city, try to get as far away as possible from the most enlightened areas.

On the other hand, you should also bear in mind that if the sky is not clear you can not see the stars. Choose a day in which the weather is suitable to enjoy the sky at its best. Are you ready? Well, let's start our little astronomical exploration.

How to find the Polar Star

A key element when finding the Ursa Minor is knowing how to place the Pole Star in the sky. The main usefulness of this star is to locate the North, wherever you are. It is for this reason that formerly being able to determine the whereabouts of the Pole Star was essential. Travelers, sailors, fishermen and merchants traveled long roads and had to be guided by the stars, which is why this star of the Little Bear was so famous.

To find the Pole Star or Polaris we must first find the Big Dipper . For this we turn our gaze to the north. Bearing in mind that the Big Dipper (NOT the Minor) rotates around the Pole Star, it is when we get to see this one that we will find the Little Bear.

Now we must find the part of the Big Dipper formed by the stars Merak and Dubhe. These two stars are what lead us to the Pole Star. Both stars form the car or bowl of the Big Dipper, and while Merak is in the lower corner, Dubhe is in the upper one. Once these stars are located, you must draw an imaginary line five times the length that separates Merak and Dubhe. At the end of this imaginary line you will find the Polar Star, member of the Ursa Minor.

In the photo below you can see the map you have to draw in the sky to find the Pole Star.

Find the Ursa Minor through Pherkad and Kochard

Another option we have if we ask ourselves how to find the Little Dipper is to locate the second and third brightest stars of this constellation: Pherkad and Kochard. These are the only stars that can be seen apart from the Pole Star. As in the previous case in which we were looking for the Pole Star through the location of Merak and Dubhe in the Big Dipper, Pherkad and Kochard form the dipper or bowl of the Little Bear. They are known as the guardians of the pole when rotating around the Pole Star, and while Pherkad is at the top of the bucket, Kochab is on the bottom.

If we can visualize these stars we will also have found the Little Dipper, although the truth is that you have to have a good view and do not despair of looking for them in the sky.

Draw the Little Dipper in the sky

Whether we have found Polaris or Pherkad or Kochab, we can finish drawing the lines that make up the rest of the constellation. In the second case, it will be easier to imagine the line leading to the handle, since the Pole Star shines brightest.

In addition, once we have managed to visualize the Ursa Minor in full, we will find it much easier to find the Ursa Major, since it is located, since the Ursa Minor points in the opposite direction to the Ursa Major. If you look at the images that we have used in this article, you will see it more clearly.

The best time of year to find the Little Dipper

You must bear in mind that the time of year can influence the possibilities of finding the constellation. Although its stars are visible throughout the year, on winter mornings and the spring night sky it is easier to visualize them. This is because in these times the location of the stars that form the Little Dipper are higher in the sky, so although the brightness will be the same as at any other time of the year, it will be easier to see them. Also, the Little Dipper will be more difficult to locate in the fall since the constellation is closer to the horizon line.

Keep in mind that if you are in the southern hemisphere you will not be able to find the constellation. Why? The latitude in which you find yourself influences the position of both Polaris and Ursa Minor. As a consequence, once you cross the equatorial line when heading south, the northern hemisphere will not be visible, that is, the Ursa Minor with its stars. Following this rule, the only location where the Pole Star is located exactly above us is the North Pole.