The constellations
Ursa Minor, the Little Bear,
and Ursa Major, the Great
Bear, are better known as the Small and the Big Dipper. However, Ursa Major extends
far more out and only the seven brightest stars give the popular pattern of the Big
Dipper. The brightest star of Ursa Minor, alpha UMi, is less than a degree from the
celestial northpole (where earth's axis is pointing at). Therefore it plays a major
role for navigation and got the name Polaris or Pole Star. To find Polaris just extend
the two back stars of the Big Dipper about five times upwards
(see lines and labels).