An asterism (a group of bright [[star (sky)|]]s forming a pattern) consisting of seven bright stars of the [[constellation]] [[Ursa Major (constellation)|]], recognized by its shape, which resembles a ladle or pot with a handle, hence the name. Also called the [i]Plough[/i] and in China and Japan the [i]North Dipper[/i] (北斗), which contrasts with the traditional Chinese constellation called the "[i]South Dipper[/i]":https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sagittarius_with_Chinese_Asterisms_and_Mansions.svg (南斗), a six-star part of the "Sagittarius":/wiki_pages/sagittarius_(constellation) constellation. It is also referred to simply as the "North Star" in several countries.

The Big Dipper can be distinguished from [[Ursa Minor (constellation)|]], also known as the [i]Little Dipper[/i], by its "handle": the former is bent downward, while the latter is bent upward.

h5. Examples
* !asset #21150856: Shape
* !post #530127
* !post #5037221: Sometimes the "handle" is depicted more curved

h4. See also
* [[Hokuto no Ken]]
* [[Ursa Minor (constellation)|]]

h4. External links 
* "Wikipedia: Big Dipper":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Dipper
* "Wikipedia (CH): South Dipper":https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/南斗六星
* "Encyclopedia Britannica: Asterism":https://www.britannica.com/science/asterism-astronomy
北斗七星 北斗星 七つの星 북두칠성