Ursa Minor
Ursa Minor, Latin for 'Little Bear', is a small northern circumpolar constellation best known for containing Polaris—the current North Star—at the end of the Little Dipper’s handle. It spans 256 square degrees, is visible all year from northern latitudes, and has been used for navigation due to its stable position near the north celestial pole.
Source: noirlab.edu
APODs including "Ursa Minor"
Savudrija Star Trails
05/06/2025
Savudrija lighthouse shines along the coast near the northern end of the Istrian peninsula in this well-composed night skyscape. A navigational aid for sailors on the Adriatic Sea, the historic lighthouse was constructed in the early 19th century. But Polaris, an even older aid to navigation, shines in the sky above. Alpha star of the constellation Ursa Minor, Polaris is also known as the North Star. In this scene Polaris forms the shortest bright arc near the North Celestial Pole, the extension of Earth's axis of rotation into space. Of course, the North Celestial Pole lies exactly at the center of all the concentric star trails. The composite image is a digital stack of 400 exposures, each 30 seconds long, taken with camera and tripod fixed to a rotating planet.