Ursa Minor, also called the Lesser Bear, is a constellation perhaps best known by another nickname—the Little Dipper. It is a constellation of the Northern Hemisphere. Ursa Minor is surrounded by the constellations Camelopardalis, Cepheus, and Draco. Ursa Minor is the northernmost constellation and includes Polaris, the North Star. It can be seen from the Northern Hemisphere the year around, but it is best viewed in May and June. Ursa Minor was among the 48 constellations defined by the ancient Greek mathematician Ptolemy. Today, it is one of 88 constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The IAU is the leading authority in the naming of heavenly objects.
Ursa Minor can be drawn in several ways using different numbers of stars. As the nickname Little Dipper implies, Ursa Minor is shaped like a water dipper or ladle. The “handle” of stars forms the bear’s tail, and the “cup” serves as the bear’s body.
See also Big and Little Dippers .
