TheBig Dipper (US,Canada) or thePlough (UK,Ireland)[1][2] is anasterism consisting of seven brightstars of theconstellationUrsa Major;[3][4][5][6] six of them are ofsecond magnitude and one,Megrez (δ), of third magnitude. Four define a "bowl" or "body" and three define a "handle" or "head". It is recognized as a distinct grouping in many cultures. The North Star (Polaris), the current northernpole star and the tip of the handle of theLittle Dipper (Little Bear), can be located by extending an imaginary line through the front two stars of the asterism,Merak (β) andDubhe (α). This makes it useful incelestial navigation.
The constellation ofUrsa Major (Latin: Greater Bear) has been seen as abear, awagon, or aladle. The "bear" tradition isIndo-European (appearing in Greek, as well as inVedic India),[7] but apparently the name "bear" has parallels in Siberian or North American traditions.[8][9][10]
The name "Bear" isHomeric, and apparently native to Greece, while the "Wain" tradition is Mesopotamian.Book XVIII ofHomer'sIliad mentions it as "the Bear, which men also call the Wain".[11] InLatin, these seven stars were known as the "Seven Oxen" (septentriones, fromseptem triōnēs).[12] Classical Greek mythography identified the "Bear" as the nymphCallisto, changed into a she-bear byHera, the jealous wife ofZeus.
In Ireland and the United Kingdom, this pattern is known as the Plough (Irish: An Camchéachta – the bent plough). Thesymbol of the Starry Plough has been used as a political symbol byIrish Republican and Irish left wing movements. Former names include the Great Wain (i.e.,wagon), Arthur's Wain[13] or Butcher's Cleaver. The terms Charles's Wain and Charles his Wain are derived from the still olderCarlswæn.[14] Afolk etymology holds that this derived fromCharlemagne, but the name is common to all theGermanic languages and the original reference was to thechurls' (i.e., the men's) wagon, in contrast to the women's wagon, (theLittle Dipper).[15][16] An older "Odin's Wain"may have preceded theseNordic designations.[14]
InGerman, it is known as the "Great Wagon" (Großer Wagen) and, less often, the "Great Bear" (Großer Bär). Likewise, in theNorth Germanic languages, it is known by variations of "Charles's Wagon" (Karlavagnen,Karlsvogna, orKarlsvognen), but also the "Great Bear" (Stora Björn), and to theNorse pagans, it was known asÓðins vagn; "Woden's wagon".[17] InDutch, its official name is the "Great Bear" (Grote Beer), but it is popularly known as the "Saucepan" (Steelpannetje). In Italian, it is called either the "Great Wagon" (Grande Carro) or "Orsa Maggiore" ("Greater Bear").Romanian and mostSlavic languages also call it the "Great Wagon".
InHungarian, it is commonly known as "Göncöl's Wagon" (Göncölszekér) or, less often, "Big Göncöl" (Nagy Göncöl) after atáltos (shaman) inHungarian mythology who carried medicine that could cure any disease. InFinnish, the figure is known asOtava with established etymology in the archaic meaning 'salmon net', although other uses of the word refer to 'bear' and 'wheel'.[18] The bear relation is claimed to stem from the animal's resemblance to—and mythical origin from—the asterism rather than vice versa.[19][20]
InLithuanian, the stars of Ursa Major are known asDidieji Grįžulo Ratai ("The Big Back Wheels"). Other names for the constellation includePerkūno Ratai ("The Wheels ofPerkūnas"),Kaušas ("The Bucket"),Vežimas ("The Carriage"), andSamtis ("The Ladle").[citation needed] In Latvian, it is known asLielie Greizie Rati ("The Great Crooked Wagon") orLielais Kauss ("The Great Cup").[21]
In theSámi languages of Northern Europe, the constellation is identified as thebow of the great hunter Fávdna (the starArcturus). In the main Sámi language,North Sámi it is calledFávdnadávgi ("Fávdna's bow") or simplydávggát ("the bow"). The constellation features prominently in theSámi anthem, which begins with the wordsGuhkkin davvin dávggáid vuolde sabmá suolggai Sámieanan, which translates to "Far to the north, under the Bow, the Land of the Sámi slowly comes into view." The Bow is an important part of the Sámi traditional narrative about the night sky, in which various hunters try to chase downSarva, the Great Reindeer, a large constellation that takes up almost half the sky. According to the legend, Fávdna stands ready to fire his Bow every night but hesitates because he might hitStella Polaris, known asBoahji ("the Rivet"), which would cause the sky to collapse and end the world.[22]
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The Arabic namesبَنَاتُ نَعْشٍ الكُبْرَى (Banāt Naʿsh al-Kubrā),بَنُو نَعْشٍ (Banū Naʿsh), andآلُ نَعْشٍ (Āl Naʿsh) refer to the constellation known in Western astronomy as theBig Dipper, which is part of Ursa Major. The term“Banāt Naʿsh” translates to “the daughters of the bier (funeral litter),” reflecting an ancient Arab mythological interpretation of the star pattern. In this context, the four bright stars forming the “bowl” of the Big Dipper represent a funeral bier, while the three stars forming the “handle” symbolize mourners or daughters following behind in a funeral procession. This naming convention is deeply rooted in Arabic oral traditions and ancient Bedouin star lore, where celestial objects were often associated with narratives that mirrored life, death, and human experiences. Such names highlight the rich entomological and mythological traditions of pre-Islamic and early Islamic Arab culture, where stars were used for navigation, storytelling, and timekeeping.
InChinese astronomy andChinese constellation records, The Big Dipper is called "Beidou" (Chinese:北斗;pinyin:Běi Dǒu), which literally meansNorthern Dipper. It refers to an asterism equivalent to the Big Dipper. TheChinese name forAlpha Ursae Majoris is Beidou Yi (Chinese:北斗一;pinyin:Běi Dǒu yī;lit. 'Beidou One') and Tianshu (Chinese:天樞;pinyin:Tiān Shū;lit. 'Star of Celestial Pivot').[23] The asterism name was mentioned inWarring States period (c. 475–221 BCE) stellar records, in which the asterism is described to have seven stars in the shape of a dipper or a chariot.[24][failed verification]
The Chinese astronomy records were translated to otherEast Asian cultures in theSinosphere. The most prominent name is the "Northern Dipper" (北斗) and the "Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper" (Chinese andJapanese:北斗七星; pinyin:Běidǒu Qīxīng; Cantonese Yale:Bak¹-dau² Cat¹-sing¹; rōmaji:Hokuto Shichisei; Korean:북두칠성; romaja:Bukdu Chilseong; Vietnamese:Bắc Đẩu thất tinh).[25][26] Inastrology, these stars are generally considered to compose the Right Wall of thePurple Forbidden Enclosure which surrounds theNorthern Celestial Pole, although numerous other groupings and names have been made over the centuries. Similarly, each star has a distinct name, which likewise has varied over time and depending upon the asterism being constructed.[27] The personification of the Big Dipper itself is also known as "Doumu" (斗母) inChinese folk religion andTaoism, andMarici inBuddhism.
InVietnam, the colloquial name for the asterism isSao Bánh lái lớn (The BigRudder Stars), contrasted withUrsa Minor, which is known asSao Bánh lái nhỏ (The Little Rudder Stars).[28] Although this name has now been replaced by the Sino-Vietnamese "Bắc Đẩu" in everyday speech, many coastal communities incentral andsouthern Vietnam still refer to the asterism as such and use it to navigate when their fishing vessels return from the sea at night.[29]
InShinto religion, the seven largest stars of Ursa Major belong toAmenominakanushi, the oldest and most powerful of allkami.[citation needed]
InMalay, it is known as the "Boat Constellation" (Buruj Biduk); inIndonesian, as the "Canoe Stars" (Bintang Biduk).[30]
InBurmese, these stars are known asPucwan Tārā (ပုဇွန် တာရာ, pronounced "bazun taja").Pucwan (ပုဇွန်) is a general term for acrustacean, such asprawn,shrimp,crab,lobster, etc.[31]
InThai, they are known as the "Crocodile Stars" (ดาวจระเข้).47 Ursae Majoris is also namedChalawan, the mythological crocodile from Thai folklore.[32]
While its Western name comes from the star pattern's resemblance to akitchen ladle, inFilipino, the Big Dipper and its sister constellation theLittle Dipper are more often associated with thetabo, a one-handled water pot used ubiquitously in Filipino households and bathrooms for purposes of personal hygiene.[citation needed]
In the earliestIndian astronomy, the Big Dipper was called "the Bear" (Ṛkṣa,ऋक्ष) in theRigveda, but was later more commonly known by the name ofSaptarishi, "Seven Sages."[7]
InInuit astronomy, the same grouping of stars is referred to as "the Caribou" (Tukturjuit). Many of the stars within the constellation "were used as hour hands on the night sky to indicate hours of the night, or as calendar stars to help determine the date in fall, winter, or spring."[33]
The asterism name "Big Dipper" is mostly used in theUnited States andCanada. However, the origin of the term is disputed.[34] A popular myth claimed the name originated fromAfrican-Americanfolk songs; however, a more recent source challenges the authenticity of the claim.[35]
In an 1824 book on the history of the constellations' mythology,Jacob Green [fr] contrasted the "Dipper or Ladle" descriptors used in the United States with "Charles's Wagon or Wain" which were common in England.[36] Descriptions of "the dipper" appear in American astronomy textbooks throughout the 19th century.[37][38][39]
Within Ursa Major the stars of the Big Dipper haveBayer designations in consecutiveGreek alphabetical order from the bowl to the handle.
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| Bayer designation | Proper Name | Apparent magnitude | Distance (l yrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| α UMa | Dubhe | 1.8 | 124 |
| β UMa | Merak | 2.4 | 79 |
| γ UMa | Phecda | 2.4 | 84 |
| δ UMa | Megrez | 3.3 | 81 |
| ε UMa | Alioth | 1.8 | 81 |
| ζ UMa | Mizar | 2.1 | 78 |
| η UMa | Alkaid | 1.9 | 104 |
In the same line of sight asMizar, but about one light-year beyond it, is the starAlcor (80UMa). Together they are known as the "Horse and Rider". At fourth magnitude, Alcor would normally be relatively easy to see with the unaided eye, but its proximity to Mizar renders it more difficult to resolve, and it has served as a traditional test of sight. Mizar itself has four components and thus enjoys the distinction of being part of anoptical binary as well as being the first-discoveredtelescopicbinary (1617) and the first-discoveredspectroscopic binary (1889).
3D red cyan glasses are recommended to view this image correctly.Five of the stars of the Big Dipper are at the core of theUrsa Major Moving Group. The two at the ends, Dubhe and Alkaid, are not part of the swarm, and are moving in the opposite direction. Relative to the central five, they are moving down and to the right in the map. This will slowly change the Dipper's shape, with the bowl opening up and the handle becoming more bent. In 50,000 years the Dipper will no longer exist as we know it,[citation needed] but be re-formed into a new Dipper facing the opposite way. The stars Alkaid to Phecda will then constitute the bowl, while Phecda, Merak, and Dubhe will be the handle.
Not only are the stars in the Big Dipper easily found themselves, they may also be used as guides to other stars outside of the asterism. Thus it is often the starting point for introducing Northern Hemisphere beginners to thenight sky:
Additionally, the Dipper may be used as a guide to telescopic objects:
The "Seven Stars" referenced in theBible'sBook of Amos[40] may refer to these stars or, more likely, to thePleiades.
In traditionalHindu astronomy, the seven stars of the Big Dipper are identified with the names of theSaptarshi.
In addition, the asterism has also been used in corporate logos[41] and theAlaska flag. The seven stars on a red background of theFlag of the Community of Madrid,Spain, are the stars of the Big Dipper Asterism. The same can be said about the seven stars pictured in the bordure azure of theCoat of arms of Madrid, capital city of Spain.[42]
The asterism's prominence on thenorth of the night sky produced the adjective "septentrional" (literally, pertaining to sevenplow oxen) in Romance languages and English, meaning "Northern [Hemisphere]".
"Follow the Drinkin' Gourd" is an African Americanfolk song first published in 1928. The "Drinkin' Gourd" is thought to refer to the Big Dipper. Folklore has it that escaped southernslaves in the United States used the Big Dipper as a point of reference to go north.[43][44]
A mythological origin of the asterism was described in achildren's story which circulated in the United States in various versions.[45][46] A version of this story taken from the pacifist magazineHerald of Peace was translated into Russian and incorporated intoLeo Tolstoy's compilationA Calendar of Wisdom.[47][48]
The Constellation was also used on the flag of theItalian Regency of Carnaro within theOuroboros.
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"Som pendang till Karlavagnen kallas Lilla björn (latin Ursæ Minoris) för kvinnovagnen..." — as an appendix to the Men's Wagon, the Little Bear is called the Women's Wagon
Karlavagnen: "I stället sammansatt" ... – "Instead composed from the appellative karl [man] in opposition to Icelandickvennavagn [women's wagon]"
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)Sao bánh lái: "các vì sao chòm, giống hình cái bánh lái ghe" ... – "asterisms which resemble the rudder of a wooden boat."
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) Read the exact paragraph in which this issue is described in the Spanish version ofcoat of arms of Madrid.
