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How to View the Big Dipper

The Big Dipper is one of the most famous constellations in the night sky. There is more to this formation than just the shape of the dipper. The dipper is a small part of the constellation Ursa Major or the Great Bear. Lines extend from every corner of the bowl to form the big bear.

Things You'll Need

Binoculars

Instructions

- 1
  Go out under very dark skies with a star chart to view the entire formation. The dipper portion is obvious even with light pollution, but the rest of the formation requires less light to see.
- 2
  Find the dipper to start. The handle is actually the tail of the bear, while the bowl makes up the top half of the bear's body. Legs extend from the bottom of the bowl closest to the handle.
- 3
  Use your star chart to put the Great Bear into place. The star named Muscida makes the point of the snout. Its name translates as "muzzle." Forget the lines that make the bottom of the dipper bowl and the side of the bowl opposite the handle. These lines define the dipper, but don't serve to draw the bear.
- 4
  Search for Messier Object 40. It is a little difficult to find without very dark skies. You need binoculars to find this double star.
- 5
  Look at the area where the handle meets the bowl. The star at the junction is called Megrez. M40 is located near the junction just above the length of the handle and less than a quarter of the way from Megrez to the first star in the bowl.
- 6
  Aim your binoculars to the right of this spot, meaning above the bowl. Look around for two stars very close to one another. This is M40.

Astronomy