Back to Glossary

Ursa Major

Ursa Major, Latin for 'Great Bear,' is a prominent constellation in the northern sky. It is the third-largest constellation and contains the Big Dipper asterism, which is often used as a navigational aid due to its proximity to Polaris, the North Star.

Source: science.nasa.gov

APODs including "Ursa Major"

Meteors Between Stars and Clouds

11/12/2002

Meteors Between Stars and Clouds
Image Credit: Pierre Martin & Michael F. Vasseur (OAOG) / NASA APOD

Streaking high above diffuse clouds -- but well in front of distant stars -- are sand-sized bits of an ancient comet: meteors. These bits flaked off Comet Tempel-Tuttle during its pass through the inner Solar System about 150 years ago. Far in the background are stars toward the constellation of Ursa Major. The above image is digital combination of 12 exposures taken on the morning of November 19 from Florida, USA. Observers there reported a strong peak in faint meteors between 5:30 and 6:00 EST, with a particularly strong minute coming at 5:46 EST when 22 Leonid meteors were counted. The likely less impressive Geminid meteor shower will peak over the next three nights.