OtterKnow Kids EncyclopediaThe Big Dipper is one of the easiest star patterns to find in the night sky! It looks like a giant spoon or ladle with a long handle and a big cup. If you look up on a clear night, you can probably spot it.
The Big Dipper is actually part of a bigger constellation called Ursa Major, which means “Big Bear.” The Big Dipper makes up the bear’s back and tail. You can use the Big Dipper to find the North Star! Just follow the two stars at the front of the cup, and they point right to it.
- The Big Dipper has seven bright stars.
- People in England call it “The Plough” because it looks like a farming tool.
- The Big Dipper can be seen all year long if you live in the northern part of the world!
