How often does the Ursa major revolve pole star?

Answer 1

Find Ursa Major, the "big dipper". Follow the lines of the two "bowl" stars Merak and Dubhe out from the lip of the bowl. Go seven times the distance between the stars, and you will see one star which is not particularly bright, but is brighter than the other stars around it. This is Polaris, the "North Pole" star.

To check your work, follow the line from the dipper to Polaris an equal distance across the sky. You should be in the middle of a giant crooked "W" of stars; this is the "Chair of Cassiopeia".

Answer 2

Strictly speaking, Ursa Major does not circle Polaris at all. The stars in the sky are "fixed", and do not move around. (This isn't exactly true; every star has its own "proper motion" across the heavens, but the motion is only observable on a scale of several CENTURIES. We don't live long enough to notice.)

But because the Earth is spinning, it APPEARS as if all the stars are moving - except one. Polaris, by an amazing coincidence, happens to be almost above the North Pole, and so all the other stars appear to rotate around Polaris, once per day.

Answer 3

Yes, this is generally how people find the north star (or pole star), since it is not especially bright or easy to find without the 'pointer' stars at the end of Ursa Major (or the plough (or the Big Dipper)).

If you locate the two stars at the end of this constellation you can then locate the pole start and find north. The constellation looks like a big saucepan, find the two stars opposite the `handle` then imagine a straight line leading through both of these stars and carry on another 4 or so times the length of the length between the two.

Answer 4

Ursa Major is a rather large constellation, covering a good-size patch of sky.

(Its seven brightest stars, forming the "Big Dipper" asterism, are only a part

of the constellation.) The sources we consulted give the declination as 55° .

Wherever that point is in the constellation, here's where you need to look

to see it:

-- Face north.

-- The point is somewhere between 35° left and 35° right of straight-ahead,

depending on the date and the time of night.

-- Its altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude.

-- If your latitude is 55° or more North, the point is always up, and never sets.

-- If you're on the equator, the point rises 35° east of north, and sets 35° west of north

12 hours later.

-- If your latitude is 35° or more South, then the point is always below your horizon.

Answer 5

The current north celestial pole star, Polaris, will remain visible near the North Celestial Pole for a few centuries. Ursa Major revolves around the northern celestial pole once every 24 hours due to Earth's rotation.

Answer 6

The locations of the constellations change constantly, so there is no single answer. Ursa Major is visible all year round, normally high overhead.

Answer 7

Once every day, like any other star or constellation. More accurately, once every 23h56m. That is how many times it goes across the sky.

Answer 8

Not quite. Only if you live in the Northern Hemisphere will you be able to see them at all times.

Answer 9

Face toward the north.