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:
“When a toddler uses profanity, don’t make a big deal about it. If you do, you give the child more power. After all, it’s only a word—one that won’t do much harm to anybody. In fact, if you think about it, a nasty word is a step up from hitting or biting someone. So look at it as a sign of growth.”
—Lawrence Balter (20th century)