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Ursa Major , the great bear, is a prominent constellation best known for containing the Big Dipper asterism, which is used to locate Polaris, the North Star. Ursa Major , also known as the Great Bear, is a constellation in the Northern Sky, whose associated mythology likely dates back into prehistory. Its Latin name means "greater (or larger) bear", referring to and contrasting it with nearby Ursa Minor, the lesser bear. [1] Learn about the largest constellation in the northern hemisphere, also known as the Great Bear or the Big Dipper. Discover its brightest stars, prominent asterism, Messier objects, and meteor showers. Key Points Ursa Major is a constellation, which is a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern traditionally named after its apparent form or identified with a mythological figure. It is one of the most famous constellations in the night sky and is also known as the Great Bear. Ursa Major contains the asterism known as the Big Dipper, which is one of the most easily recognizable patterns in the sky. The Big Dipper's "pointer" stars can be used to find the North Star (Polaris), making it ...