Ursa Minor constellation
Ursa Minor is a constellation of the northern sky. Its brightest star is Polaris. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): never sets — visible all year round.
- Alwaysnever sets at 52° N
- Polarisbrightest star, magnitude 2.0
- UMiUrsa Minor
How to find the constellation Ursa Minor
Polaris is the end of the handle of the Little Dipper. Find it with the “pointers” of the Big Dipper, Merak and Dubhe. Apart from Polaris and the two stars at the end of the bowl (Kochab and Pherkad), the stars of Ursa Minor are faint and hard to see from a city.
Visible all year round; it is highest in the evening, around 22:00, in June, and half a year later at that time it is lowest, above the northern horizon.
| Location | Visibility |
|---|---|
| 40° NMadrid, New York, Beijing | never sets — visible all year round |
| 52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsaw | never sets — visible all year round |
| 60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburg | never sets — visible all year round |
Bright stars of the constellation
| Star | Magnitude | Color | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polarisα Ursae Minoris | 2.0 | yellow | 320–430 light years (not measured precisely) |
| Kochabβ Ursae Minoris | 2.1 | orange | about 131 light years |
| Pherkadγ Ursae Minoris | 3.0 | bluish white | — |
| Circitoresε Ursae Minoris | 4.2 | orange | — |
| 5 Ursae Minoris | 4.3 | orange | — |
| Akfa Farkadainζ Ursae Minoris | 4.3 | bluish white | — |
| Yildunδ Ursae Minoris | 4.3 | bluish white | — |
Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.
Questions
How do you find the constellation Ursa Minor in the sky?
Polaris is the end of the handle of the Little Dipper. Find it with the “pointers” of the Big Dipper, Merak and Dubhe. Apart from Polaris and the two stars at the end of the bowl (Kochab and Pherkad), the stars of Ursa Minor are faint and hard to see from a city.
When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Ursa Minor?
At mid-northern latitudes (52° N) Ursa Minor never sets and can be seen on any clear night. It is highest in the evening in summer, in June.
What is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor?
Polaris: magnitude 2.0, yellow. Distance: 320–430 light years (not measured precisely).
How many stars are there in the constellation Ursa Minor?
With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 25 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.