Saptarishi (Big Dipper) Asterism

The Big Dipper is one of the most easily recognisable Asterisms in the night sky.It is found in the Constellation Ursa Major(Great Bear).They are also called as "Saptarishi"(meaning Seven Sages) in Indian Astronomy.

The Big Dipper consists of 7 Bright stars of the constellation Ursa Major.They are:

• Dubhe
• Merak
• Phecda
• Megrez
• Alioth
• Mizar & Alcor
• Alkaid

which are known in Indian Name as :

• Kratu
• Pulah
• Pulastya
• Atri
• Angiras
• Vashishta & Arundhati
• Mareechi

Are the Seven Rishis in Ancient India.

Here the star known as "Arundhati "which is slightly visible near the Star Vashishta - Arundhati is the wife of Rishi Vashishta.

Visibility & How to Locate Saptarishi or Big dipper :

• This Asterism is particularly prominent in the Northern Sky.
• It can be easily recognizable in the second Quadrant of the Northern Hemisphere( Plough Like Pattern).
• It is the Best seen in the evening in April.
• This can be found in different parts of the sky at different time of the year.
• In Summer & Spring , the Saptarishi or Big dipper are at the higher Overhead.(North)
• In Autumn & winter they are closer to the Horizon ( Northeast).

Characteristics:

• Saptarishi ( Big Dipper ) is circumpolar in most of the Northern Hemisphere,Which means that it does not sink below the Horizon at Night.( As a result of Earth's rotation ,Saptarishi with Ursa major ,appears to rotate slowly Counterclockwise at the Night around the north celestial Pole )read more....circumpolarity of star 
• The two outer stars in the big dipper , Dubhe (Kratu) and Merak(Pulah) are always point to Polaris .and an imaginary line drawn between them goes to Polaris ,the North Star .That's why Dubhe and Merak are known as "the Pointers " in Skylore. 

                                                         -PVGANIGA