Merak
Product information
Description
Merak shines with a clean, white light as one of the stars in the bowl of the Big Dipper. Paired with Dubhe, it helps form the celestial guidepost to Polaris, making it an essential part of the northern sky's star map.
Additional Information
- Constellation
- Ursa Major
- Spectral Type
- A1V
- Apparent Magnitude
- 2.37
- Distance (Light Years)
- 79.7
- Right Ascension
- 11h 01m 50.5s
- Declination
- +56° 22′ 57″
- Solar Masses
- 2.7
- Radius (Solar)
- 2.8
- Temperature (Kelvin)
- 9330
- Age (Million Years)
- 500
Discovery
- Ancient Civilizations
- Greeks, Chinese, Arabs
- Historical Significance
- Merak has been observed since antiquity and is part of the Big Dipper asterism, playing a central role in star lore and celestial mapping across many cultures.
Cultural Significance
- Mythology
- Merak is one of the seven stars in the Big Dipper, which has been seen as a plough, ladle, or bear depending on the culture. In Greek mythology, it is part of the Great Bear (Ursa Major), while in Chinese astronomy, it forms part of the 'Northern Dipper.'
- Navigation
- Merak and its neighbor Dubhe are known as the 'pointer stars' because a line drawn through them leads directly to Polaris, the North Star — making them essential for celestial navigation.
- Modern Reference
- Merak continues to be a reference star in astronomy guides, and it's often used by stargazers to locate Polaris and navigate the northern sky.
Notable Features
- Stellar Motion
- Merak exhibits proper motion like other nearby stars, though its position relative to Dubhe has remained a reliable navigational reference for centuries.
- Additional Fact
- Merak is part of the Ursa Major Moving Group, a collection of stars that share a common motion through space, suggesting a shared origin.
User Dedications
- Dedications
- This star has not been claimed yet. Be the first to dedicate it to someone special!