Beta Ursae Majoris (Beta UMa, β Ursae Majoris, β UMa) is a star in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Major. It has the traditional name Merak.
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" in England, 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.
Read more about Beta Ursae Majoris: Properties, Name and Etymology, In Culture