Beta Ursae Majoris

Also known as Merak, 48 Ursae Majoris, HD 95418, The Celestial Rotating Jade, 48 UMa, β UMa, β Ursae Majoris, NSV 5053

star in constellation of Ursa Major

Key facts

Constellation: Ursa Major
Right ascension: 11 01 50.47654
Declination: +56 ° 22 ′ 56.7339 ″
Apparent magnitude v: +2.37
Evolutionary stage: Main sequence
Spectral type: A1IVps
U b color index: +0.00
Variable type: Suspected

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image: Ursa major star name.png

Sources (4)

wikidata.org

~4 min read

Article

Size comparison between the Sun, Beta Ursae Majoris, Pollux, and Arcturus. Merak /ˈmɪəræk/, also called Beta Ursae Majoris (β Ursae Majoris, abbreviated Beta UMa, β UMa), is a star in the northern constellation of Ursa Major.

The apparent visual magnitude of this star is +2.37, which means it is readily visible to the naked eye. It is more familiar to Northern Hemisphere observers as one of the "pointer stars" in the Big Dipper, or the Plough (UK), which is a prominent asterism of seven stars that forms part of the larger constellation. Extending an imaginary straight line from this star through the nearby Alpha Ursae Majoris (Dubhe) extends to Polaris, the north star.