What is Ursa Major?
{{unreferenced|date=December 2011}} {{Infobox Constellation | name = Ursa Major | abbreviation = UMa | genitive = Ursae Majoris | pronounce = {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɜr|s|ə|_|ˈ|m|eɪ|dʒ|ər}},<br>genitive {{IPAc-en|ˌ|ɜr|s|iː|_|m|ə|ˈ|dʒ|ɒr|ᵻ|s}} | symbolism = the Great [[Bear]] | RA = 10.67 | dec= +55.38 | family = [[Ursa Major Family|Ursa Major]] | quadrant = NQ2 | areatotal = 1280 | arearank = 3rd | numbermainstars = 7, 20 | numberbfstars = 93 | numberstarsplanets = 20 | numberbrightstars = 7 | numbernearbystars = 8 | brighteststarname = [[Epsilon Ursae Majoris|ε UMa]] (Alioth) | starmagnitude = 1.76 | neareststarname = [[Lalande 21185]] | stardistancely = 8.31 | stardistancepc = 2.55 | numbermessierobjects = 7 | meteorshowers = [[Alpha Ursa Majorids]]<br />[[Leonids-Ursids]] | bordering = [[Draco (constellation)|Draco]]<br />[[Camelopardalis]]<br />[[Lynx (constellation)|Lynx]]<br />[[Leo Minor]]<br />[[Leo (constellation)|Leo]]<br />[[Coma Berenices]]<br />[[Canes Venatici]]<br />[[Boötes]] | latmax = [[North Pole|90]] | latmin = [[30th parallel south|30]] | month = April | notes = [[File:Big dipper.triddle.jpg|240px|center]] <small>The [[Big Dipper]] or Plough.</small> }} {{Redirect|Big Dipper}} '''Ursa Major''' is a [[constellation]] in the northern part of the sky. Its name means '''Great Bear'''in [[Latin]]. It was named that because many different groups of people around the world have thought that its [[star]]s look a lot like a [[bear]] with a long [[tail]]. It is often used as a symbol for ''[[north]]''. According to [[Greek mythology]], Ursa Major was once the beautiful maiden Callisto, whom the god Zeus had an affair with. In order to protect her and their son, Arcas, from his jealous wife Hera, Zeus turned Callisto and Arcas into bears. He then picked up the bears by their short, stubby tails and threw them into the sky.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/ursa-major-in-greek-mythology/ | title=Ursa Major in Greek Mythology&#124; the myth of Zeus and Callisto | date=20 March 2011 }}<