Q 01/05

What does the Latin name Ursa Major mean?

A) Greater Bear

B) Great Wagon

C) Northern Ladle

D) Seven Sisters

Answer · why

A) Greater Bear

It contrasts with nearby Ursa Minor, the lesser bear, home of the pole star.

Q 02/05

How does Ursa Major rank in size among the 88 modern constellations?

A) Largest

B) Tenth largest

C) Third largest

D) Smallest

Answer · why

C) Third largest

It covers 1,279.66 square degrees, or 3.10% of the whole sky.

Q 03/05

What is the seven-star asterism of Ursa Major called in the United Kingdom?

A) The Big Dipper

B) The Plough

C) The Saucepan

D) The Kite

Answer · why

B) The Plough

Americans call it the Big Dipper, and historically the British also called it Charles's Wain.

Q 04/05

Which two Big Dipper stars are the "pointers" to Polaris?

A) Mizar and Alcor

B) Dubhe and Merak

C) Alioth and Alkaid

D) Phecda and Megrez

Answer · why

B) Dubhe and Merak

Trace a line from Merak through Dubhe and continue five times that distance to reach the North Star.

Q 05/05

Which star lies at the very end of the Big Dipper's handle?

A) Dubhe

B) Merak

C) Alkaid

D) Megrez

Answer · why

C) Alkaid

The blue-white B-type star is also called Benetnasch; the Chinese knew it as the Star of Military Defeat.