Big Dipper Bowl Pointer Stars Lead to Auriga Constellation and Capella

Summary: Two pairs of Big Dipper pointer stars in Ursa Major constellation lead to Auriga the Charioteer constellation and Capella, Auriga's brightest star.

Three stars in the bowl of the Big Dipper asterism (north) may be used as guides for finding Auriga the Charioteer constellation (center) and Capella, Auriga's brightest star and the night's sixth brightest star: Garrett P. Serviss, “Astronomy With an Opera-Glass: The Stars of Winter,” The Popular Science Monthly (February 1888), Map 1, page 513: Not in copyright, via Internet Archive

Big Dipper pointer stars, in the bowl of the seven star asterism in Ursa Major constellation, lead to Auriga the Charioteer constellation and Capella, Auriga's brightest star and the night's sixth brightest star.

Three stars that represent the top and front side of the bowl offer two paths that lead to Auriga or directly to Capella. As marker of the bowl's front, or outside, rim, Dubhe launches both paths.

Two stars, Dubhe and Megrez, depict the bowl's top, or rim. Megrez is sited at the juncture of the bowl's back, or inside, rim and side with the asterism's handle. Dubhe marks the top of the bowl's front side and its front rim. A line, extended from Megrez forward through Dubhe, continues directly to the nearest bright star, which is Capella. Auriga's brightest star represents either the charioteer's left shoulder or the heart of Amaltheia, the she-goat shouldered by the charioteer.

The general guidepost to Auriga the Charioteer constellation enlists the two stars representing the Big Dipper bowl's front side. Dubhe sits at the top of the front side while Merak indicates the front side's bottom. Outward lines, angled downward from Dubhe and upward from Merak, converge to lead directly to Auriga, easily identified by Capella as the nearest, brightest star.

Of the three Big Dipper bowl stars leading to Auriga and Capella, Dubhe and Merak are popular pointer stars for locating Polaris, the brightest star in Ursa Minor, or Little Bear, constellation. A line extended from Merak through Dubhe leads to the North Star.

Dubhe is the second brightest star in the Big Dipper asterism. The pointer star's astronomical designation is Alpha Ursae Majoris (α Ursae Majoris; Alpha UMa; α UMa). The yellow-glowing star's traditional name, Dubhe (“bear”), derives from an Arabic phrase, żahr ad-dubb al-akbar (“the back of the Greater Bear”).

Merak is the fifth brightest star in the Big Dipper asterism. Merak's astronomical designation is Beta Ursae Majoris (ß Ursae Majoris; Beta UMa; ß Uma). The white-hued star's traditional name derives from al-maraqq, an Arabic word meaning “loins.”

Megrez claims last place as the dimmest star in the Big Dipper asterism. Megrez's astronomical designation is Delta Ursae Majoris (δ Ursae Majoris; Delta Ua; δ UMa). The white-hued star's traditional name derives from al-maghriz, an Arabic word meaning “base.” In terms of Ursa Major constellation, Megrez indicates the base of the Big Bear's tail.

The paths from the Big Dipper bowl's stellar guideposts to Capella and the bright star's constellation pass through the Lynx constellation. The faint, zigzagging constellation lies between Ursa Major and Auriga. Lynx is the southwestern neighbor of Ursa Major constellation and the eastern neighbor of the Charioteer.

Lynx's brightest star, Alpha Lyncis (α Lyn, α Lyncis), marks the constellation's southern end. Alpha Lyncis is not bright enough to interfere with locating Auriga and Capella by way of imaginary lines passing through Lynx.

The takeaway from the Big Dipper bowl pointer stars that lead to Auriga constellation and the Charioteer's brightest star is appreciation of the night sky's clear guideposts.

Pointer stars Dubhe and Merak point to Polaris, the North Star: EarthSky @earthskyscience, via Twitter Nov. 15, 2015

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Two pairs of stars in the bowl of the Big Dipper asterism (north) may be used as guides for finding Auriga the Charioteer constellation (center) and Capella, Auriga's brightest star and the night's sixth brightest star: Garrett P. Serviss, “Astronomy With an Opera-Glass: The Stars of Winter,” The Popular Science Monthly (February 1888), Map 1, page 513: Not in copyright, via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/stream/popularsciencemo321888newy#page/513/mode/1up

Pointer stars Dubhe and Merak point to Polaris, the North Star: Earth Sky @earthskyscience, via Twitter Nov. 15, 2015, @ https://twitter.com/earthskyscience/status/665917939288248320

For further information:

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Available @ https://twitter.com/earthskyscience/status/665917939288248320

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Available @ http://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/lynx-constellation/

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/10/auriga-charioteer-claims-capella-as.html

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Available @ http://earthsky.org/?p=52242">http://earthsky.org/?p=52242

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Available @ http://www.smokymtnastro.org/Seasons/Spring/Spring%20Sky%20Tour%20Polar%20Constellations.htm

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Available @ http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/auriga.htm

Serviss, Garrett P. “Astronomy With an Opera-Glass: The Stars of Winter.” The Popular Science Monthly (February 1888): 511-529.
Available @ https://archive.org/stream/popularsciencemo321888newy#page/511/mode/1up

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Available @ http://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/ursa-major-constellation/

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Available @ http://www.solarsystemquick.com/universe/ursa-major-constellation.htm