How to find the Big Dipper in Ursa Major
Look for seven stars forming a four-star bowl and a three-star handle. This is the Big Dipper, also called the Plough: a recognizable pattern within the constellation Ursa Major, not a separate constellation. It is most useful to observers in the Northern Hemisphere.
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Open Ursa Major in the sky map
Recognize the bowl and the handle
The bowl is made of Dubhe, Merak, Phecda and Megrez; the curved handle runs on through Alioth, Mizar and Alkaid. Sharp eyes can separate Mizar from its faint companion Alcor. All seven stars are of similar brightness, which is why the pattern stands out even under city light.
Big Dipper at a glance
Every star of the Big Dipper climbs above the horizon at some point in the year from anywhere north of about 28°S. It never sets north of about 41°N. At 9 pm it stands high (30° or more) from 50°N from Feb to Aug, and from 35°S in no month of the year.
| Latitude | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50°N | Low | High | High | High | High | High | High | High | Low | Low | Low | Low |
| 35°N | Low | High | High | High | High | High | High | Low | Low | — | — | — |
| 35°S | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Star | Magnitude | Light-years | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alioth | 1.76 | 83 | Blue-white |
| Dubhe | 1.81 | 123 | Orange |
| Alkaid | 1.85 | 104 | Blue-white |
| Mizar | 2.23 | 86 | White |
| Merak | 2.34 | 80 | White |
| Phecda | 2.41 | 83 | White |
“High” is 30° or more above the horizon, “Low” 10° to 30°. Times are local mean time; daylight saving moves the clock an hour later. A lower magnitude is a brighter star. Distances are from the HYG catalogue, rounded.
Find the right pattern on the map
Set your location and time, open search and choose “Ursa Major.” The map shows the full constellation figure, so look within it for the bowl and curved handle. Do not expect the search result to be named Big Dipper.
Compare the stars with the horizon. Far enough north, the Dipper circles the northern sky without setting. At lower latitudes, some or all of the pattern can dip below the horizon. It is not a reliable year-round evening landmark everywhere.
Use the bowl to find Polaris
The two stars at the bowl’s outer edge, away from the handle, are Merak and Dubhe. Follow the line from Merak through Dubhe and continue roughly five times the gap between them to reach Polaris, the North Star. The gap is about 5 degrees, half a fist at arm’s length, so Polaris stands nearly three fists beyond Dubhe.
Polaris is not the brightest star in the sky. It lies close to the north celestial pole, which is why the other northern stars appear to turn around it. Its height above the horizon is roughly your latitude: about 40 degrees up at 40 degrees north. You can search for Polaris separately on the map to check your star-hop.
Follow the handle to Arcturus and Spica
Continue the curve of the handle away from the bowl: arc to Arcturus, then spike to Spica. Arcturus is a bright orange star, and blue-white Spica lies about the same distance beyond it, on a straighter line. This hop works best on spring evenings in the Northern Hemisphere, when the Dipper stands high.
When and from where
North of about 41 degrees north, the whole Dipper never sets, so a clear night is enough. It stands highest on spring evenings and lowest, sometimes skimming the northern horizon, on autumn evenings. Farther south it dips below the horizon for part of the year. From the tropics it can show low in the north in the right season, and from the southern mid-latitudes little or none of it rises.
Big Dipper, Little Dipper or Cassiopeia?
The Little Dipper belongs to Ursa Minor and has Polaris at the end of its handle. Its other stars are harder to pick out under city lights. On the other side of Polaris from the Big Dipper lies Cassiopeia, a zigzag W or M of five fairly bright stars; when one is high the other is low. The prominent seven-star scoop you notice first is often the Big Dipper, but verify the shape and position.
What if the bowl is tipped over?
The Dipper’s orientation changes through the night and across the seasons. A handle pointing down is not a different constellation. Match the relative star positions instead of searching only for an upright saucepan.
From many southern locations the full pattern never rises. Try the Southern Cross as another starting point. Wherever you observe, the map includes stars below the horizon and cannot account for clouds, hills or light pollution.
Questions people ask
How do I find the Big Dipper tonight?
Face north in the Northern Hemisphere and look for seven stars in a bowl-and-handle shape. How high it stands depends on the season and hour: high on spring evenings, low on autumn evenings. Search for Ursa Major on the sky map to see where it stands for your place and time.
What direction do I look for the Big Dipper?
Toward the north, in the northern half of the sky. In spring evenings look high up toward the north; in autumn evenings, low over the northern horizon. The Dipper circles around Polaris, so its direction and tilt change through the night.
Is the Big Dipper out every night?
North of about 41 degrees north it is above the horizon every night, though daylight, cloud and city light can hide it. Farther south it sets for part of the year or night, and from the southern mid-latitudes it is mostly out of sight. The map shows if it is up for you.
How do I find the North Star from the Big Dipper?
Find Merak and Dubhe, the two stars on the outer edge of the bowl. Draw a line from Merak through Dubhe and extend it about five times the gap between them. It ends at Polaris, the North Star, which is fairly faint. It sits almost due north.