When we look at the constellation Ursa Major, The Great Bear, we are seeing a sight that is mostly invisible to many in the mid-latitudes of the southern hemisphere.  If you live in Sydney, Cape Town, or Buenos Aires, you would struggle to see even a portion of this constellation on the horizon.  Constellations that are in the northern sky, like Ursa Major, appear very low in the sky as you move into the southern hemisphere, disappearing completely if you go far enough south.  Ursa Major is visible throughout the year from most locations in the Northern Hemisphere. It is one of the best-known constellations and is easily recognized because of the familiar asterism it contains, commonly known as the Big Dipper. The Big Dipper is a group of seven bright stars that form a recognizable pattern, or asterism, in the sky.

Observing Charts for This Episode