Abbreviation: Â UMi
English Name: Â The Chained Maiden
Genitive:Â Polaris
Hemisphere:Â Â Northern Hemisphere
Location:Â Between the constellations of Cepheus and Draco.
Visible between latitudes: Â +90 and -10 degrees
Best season: Summer
Seen in three seasons:Â Spring, Summer, and Autumn.
Best seen in:  Circumpolar, better in June (This constellation of Ursa Minor stays in the Sky all the year.)
Seen between:Â May and June
Right Ascension (RA):Â Â 15 hour
Declination (DEC):Â Â +70 degrees
Area (square degrees): Â 256 (56th)
Ursa Minor  (The Little Bear)
- Polaris is the brightest star in Ursa Minor – it’s located almost exactly above the North Pole, and contains the North Celestial Pole (NCP) (photo)is the `North Pole Star`. Travellers used Polaris to find their way facing almost due North, before a long time ago, the magnetic compass was invented.
- If you stood at the North Pole, Polaris would be almost directly overhead. If you can spot Polaris in the sky, you can always tell which way is north.
- The constellation of Ursa Minor with seven main stars, is known as ` The Little Dipper` it looks somewhat like a spoon that handle has been bent back by a playful child.
Messier Objects
- No Messier objects in Ursa Minor.
Features of Interest
- UGC 9749 – Ursa Minor Dwarf, the constellation of Ursa Minor is rather lacking of many deep-sky objects,  one of them are a notable object is the Ursa Minor Dwarf, located in the area of the constellation, and a satellite galaxy to our Milky-Way.
Named Stars
- Polaris (Alpha UMi)
- Kocab (Beta UMi)
- Pherkad (Gamma UMi)
- Yildun (Delta UMi)
- Pherkad Minor (11 UMi)
Others
- Photo of the constellation;Â Ursa Minor, as it appears to the naked eye. (Lines have been added for clarity.)
- Sky Chart  –  Ursa Minor
- List of stars in Ursa Minor.
Back to The 88 Constellations Lists page.