Alpha Ursae Majoris (possibly Alpha Majoris) Merak (Beta Ursae Majoris) Mizar (Zeta Ursae Majoris) 61 Ursae Majoris (Archer system) Lalande 21185 Ursa Minor (Ursae Minoris) ...
[8316] alpha Ursae Majoris or Dubhe ("bear") is the second brightest star in Ursa Major and one of the Pointers, two stars that point toward Polaris, the North Star. Dubhe is a red giant approximately 124 light-years distant.
But there are other binaries in Ursa Major worthy of investigating. Dubhe (Alpha Ursae Majoris) is a well-known binary, with a close 4.8m companion which orbits every 44.66 years. In 2000 the values are: 1.9, 4.8; PA 214º, separation 0.6".
Now instead of moving north to the Pole Star, move across the top part of the dipper (a line from delta Ursae Majoris drawn through alpha Ursae Majoris) and continue straight into the southern portion of the skies.
Merak is the southern-most of the pointers, the two stars of Ursa Major which point towards the Pole Star. A line connecting it with nearby Alpha Ursae Majoris (Dubhe) extends to Polaris, the north star.
Deneb Kaitos Schemali Iota Ceti Denebola Beta Leonis Dheneb Eta Ceti Diadem Alpha Comae Berenices Diphda Beta Ceti Dnoces Iota Ursae Majoris Dschubba Delta Scorpii Dubhe Alpha Ursae Majoris Duhr Delta Leonis ...
See also: Delta, Star, Sun, Aries, Auriga
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