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Delta Ursae Majoris

Astronomy Delta TriDelta Ursae Minoris

Delta Ursae Majoris is named Megrez, from the Arabic meaning ‘root of the tail'. Gamma Ursae Majoris is called Phad or Phecda, from the Arabic word meaning ‘the thigh'.

 


[8325] delta Ursae Majoris or Megrez ("the base") is a bluish-white dwarf, approximately 81 light-years away. It marks the base of the bear's tail. It has two companion stars and also belongs to the Ursa Major moving group.

MEGREZ (Delta Ursae Majoris). The faintest star of the Big Dipper, Megrez is in the Dipper's middle, linking the handle to the bowl, and in the bigger picture linking Ursa Major's tail to the Bear's hindquarters.

* Delta Ursae Majoris (Megrez) (HD 106591)
* HD 109011
* HD 109647 (in Canes Venatici)
* HD 110463
* Epsilon Ursae Majoris (Alioth) (HD 112185)
* 78 Ursae Majoris A (HD 113139A)
* Gliese 503.2 (HD 115043)
* Zeta Ursae Majoris (Mizar) A (HD 116656) ...

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.

See also: Delta, Ursa Major, Sky, Constellation, Double star