Constellations are sets of stars that appear near each other and are attributed a character, for example Orion, because they resemble what a mythological character is believed to look like. The stars are usually far further apart than they appear, possibly thousands of light years apart.
The Big Dipper is not a constellation itself, but rather an asterism - a pattern of stars within the constellation Ursa Major. The Big Dipper spans about 10 degrees of the sky, which is roughly the width of your fist held at arm's length.
The Big Dipper is not a smaller constellation. The Big Dipper is a part of an even larger constellation. The Big Dipper is a part of the Constellation, Ursula Major or Big Bear. It is only part of the Bear. Likewise, the little dipper is part of a larger constellation, Ursula Minor or Little Bear.
fairly big
The Big Dipper is both a constellation and an asterism. It is a part of the larger constellation Ursa Major, but it is also a distinct and recognizable pattern of stars within that constellation.
...the answer is... ...Ursa Major...
Inside the constellation
There is no beer constellation there is however a Big Bear constellation that is officially called Ursa Major. Fun fact, the Big Dipper is part of Ursa Major.
The Big Dipper is not a constellation itself, but rather an asterism - a pattern of stars within the constellation Ursa Major. The Big Dipper spans about 10 degrees of the sky, which is roughly the width of your fist held at arm's length.
The Big Dipper is not a smaller constellation. The Big Dipper is a part of an even larger constellation. The Big Dipper is a part of the Constellation, Ursula Major or Big Bear. It is only part of the Bear. Likewise, the little dipper is part of a larger constellation, Ursula Minor or Little Bear.
fairly big
The Big Dipper is both a constellation and an asterism. It is a part of the larger constellation Ursa Major, but it is also a distinct and recognizable pattern of stars within that constellation.
...the answer is... ...Ursa Major...
While generally thought of as one, the Big Dipper is NOT a constellation. It is an asterism - a group of stars that are part of a constellation. The Big Dipper is part of the constellation Ursa Major (the great bear).
While generally thought of as one, the Big Dipper is NOT a constellation. It is an asterism - a group of stars that are part of a constellation. The Big Dipper is part of the constellation Ursa Major (the great bear).
true NO NO NO NO NO! My teacher would yell at you. The big dipper is NOT a constellation. The big dipper is a part of Ursa Major, the Big Bear. Therefore, the statement is FALSE. The big dipper is an Asterism, not a Constellation.
Next to the Big Dipper is the constellation Ursa Major, which is commonly known as the Great Bear. Just to the east of the Big Dipper is the constellation Leo, another prominent constellation in the night sky.
No, they are all stars. Planets do not "make" any constellations but they may be present around a constellation's stars. Also, the big dipper is not a constellation. It's an asterism. It's part of the constellation Ursa Major.