Hobbies And Interests
The Handle: Alkaid
The first star in the Dipper's handle, Alkaid's name derives from the "leader of the daughters of the bier." These "daughters" are the "mourning maidens," or the three stars making up the handle of the Dipper.
The Handle: Mizar
Mizar is the second star from the end of the handle of the Dipper, and is actually a system made up of two stars -- the brighter Mizar, and the dimmer Alcor, which are sometimes known as "the Horse and Rider."
The Handle: Alioth
The third star in the handle of the dipper is Alioth, a name derived from "fat tail of a sheep" in Arabic. It is the closest star to the "bowl" of the Dipper, and the brightest star in Ursa Major. It's traditionally used by mariners for navigation.
The Bowl: Megrez
Megrez makes up the base of the "Big Bear"'s tail, and is the dimmest star in Ursa Major.
The Bowl: Phecda
This star's name comes from the Arabic words for "the thigh of the bear," and it located below Megrez in one the lower left corner of the Dipper's bowl. It's a star not unlike Earth's sun, although somewhat hotter and brighter.
The Bowl: Dubhe
Dubhe is the second brightest star in the constellation, and is located at the upper right of the Dipper's "bowl." It's known as a "red-giant" star because it is an aged helium star. The Chinese know it as the "celestial pivot."
The Bowl: Merak
Merak is located in the lower right position of the "bowl," and is a pointer star that helps locate Polaris, the North Star. In Arabic, its name indicates that it's the "loins (of the bear)."