Ursa Minor

views updated Jun 27 2018

Ur·sa Mi·nor / ˈərsə ˈmīnər/ Astron. a northern constellation (the Little Bear) that contains the north celestial pole and the polar star Polaris. The brightest stars form a shape that is also known as the Little Dipper. ∎  [as genitive] (Ur·sae Mi·nor·is / ˈərsē miˈnôris/ ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Alpha Ursae Minoris.

Ursa Minor

views updated May 21 2018

Ursa Minor Constellation that contains the north celestial pole. Its brightest star is Alpha, the Pole Star. The constellation's seven main stars make a pattern resembling a faint and distorted plough.

Ursa Minor

views updated May 23 2018

Ursa Minor a northern constellation (the Little Bear), which contains the north celestial pole and the pole star Polaris. The brightest stars form a shape that is also known as the Little Dipper.