The Big Dipper serves as a pointer to other locations in the sky. A common expression in astronomy is "follow the Arc to Arcturus." The "arc" refers to the handle of the Big Dipper.

Mizar, a star in the Big Dipper's handle, has a tiny companion. This star, Alcor, was known to the ancients. The pair was popularly known as the "Horse and Rider." ...

From top to bottom, Crux measures just 6 degrees — only a little taller than the distance between the Pointer stars of the Big Dipper. In fact, the Southern Cross is the smallest ...

While the Big Dipper is visible year round from many places, ... 79.7 light-years distant Merak is the fifth-brightest star in the Dipper and the second of the Pointers. Megrez (Delta [δ] UMa) ...

The Big Dipper also graces a state flag in the United States. We can thank a 13-year-old boy, John Bell "Benny" Benson, with the celestial design that now adorns the Alaska state flag.

Most people have never seen the Little Dipper, because most of its stars are too dim to be seen through light-polluted skies.

For example, every scout knows how to use the Big Dipper to find the North Star (aka Polaris) and, from that, their directions around the horizon. ... These are known as the “pointer stars.” ...

Even if you’re new to stargazing, no doubt you’ve seen the seven bright stars that outline the Big Dipper, and this time of year they’re easy to find. As soon as it’s dark enough after ...

Using the Big Dipper as compass and pointer sign: The Big Dipper is at its highest at nightfall on spring evenings — but appears upside-down.

Some, such as the Big and Little Dippers, are smaller parts of a larger constellation; for example, the Big Dipper is part of the constellation Ursa Major, ...

Mizar, a star in the Big Dipper's handle, has a tiny companion. This star, Alcor, was known to the ancients. The pair was popularly known as the "Horse and Rider." ...