The Big Dipper

The Big Dipper is one of the most famous star patterns. It looks like a big spoon or a pot with a long handle. It is not a full constellation by itself. The Big Dipper is part of a larger constellation called Ursa Major, the Great Bear. You can see it from most places north of the equator.

Finding It in the Sky

The Big Dipper is easy to spot because of its shape. Four stars form the bowl of the dipper. Three more stars make up the handle. Once you see it, you can use it to find other stars. Just follow the two stars at the end of the bowl up to find the North Star.

An old plough, which shares its shape with the Big Dipper star pattern.
An old plough, which shares its shape with the Big Dipper star pattern. (not researched / Wikimedia Commons)

A Helpful Guide

People have used the Big Dipper to find their way for a long time. Sailors looked at it to navigate at night. Travelers used it to find north. Enslaved people in America followed it to freedom. They called it the 'drinking gourd.'

Fun Facts

  • In England, the Big Dipper is called the Plough.
  • The Big Dipper is not a constellation, it is an asterism.
  • The stars of the Big Dipper are slowly changing position over thousands of years.

Did You Know?

The middle star of the Big Dipper's handle is actually two stars, and people long ago used them to test their eyesight.