The Big Dipper, also known as the Plough or the Saptarishi (after the seven rishis), is an asterism of seven stars that has been recognized as a distinct grouping in many cultures from time immemorial. The component stars are the seven brightest of the formal constellation Ursa Major.
The North Star (Polaris), the current northern pole star on Earth, can be located by using it. Polaris is part of the "Little Dipper", Ursa Minor.
Read more about Big Dipper: Stars, Guidepost, Cultural Associations
Famous quotes containing the word big:
“Whenever there’s a big war coming on, you should rope off a big field. And on the big day, you should take all the kings and their cabinets and their generals, put ‘em in the center dressed in their underpants and let them fight it out with clubs. The best country wins.”
—Maxwell Anderson (1888–1959)