The Big Dipper is an asterism formed by seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear. It is one of the most recognizable star patterns in the night sky. The asterism is well-known in many cultures and goes by many other names, including the Plough, the Great Wagon, Saptarishi, and the Saucepan.
The seven stars that form the Big Dipper are: Alkaid (Eta Ursae Majoris), Mizar (Zeta Ursae Majoris), Alioth (Epsilon Ursae Majoris), Megrez (Delta Ursae Majoris), Phecda (Gamma Ursae Majoris), Dubhe (Alpha Ursae Majoris), and Merak (Beta Ursae Majoris).
In northern latitudes, the Big Dipper is visible throughout the year. It is one of the first star patterns we learn to identify, along with Orion’s Belt, Cassiopeia’s W, and the Northern Cross in Cygnus.