Courtesy of EarthSky
A Clear Voice for Science
www.EarthSky.org [1]
Here is the legendary Big Dipper [2], now high in the north during the evening hours. It is one of the most familiar star patterns in the sky because its shape really resembles a dipper.
Less familiar – and tougher to find – is the Little Dipper. Here is how you can find it.
First, locate the Big Dipper in the northern sky during the evening hours. Notice that the Big Dipper has two parts: a bowl and a handle. See the two outer stars in the bowl? They are known as The Pointers because they point to the North Star, which is also known as Polaris.
Once you have found Polaris, you can find the Little Dipper easily. Polaris marks the end of the handle of the Little Dipper.
Related:
Little Dipper: Clipped wings of Draco the Dragon [3]
Written by Deborah Byrd
Astronomy Picture of the Day from NASA/JPL [4]
U.S. Naval Observator Astronomical Information cente [6]r
StarDate Online [7]
Space Com [10]
Amazing Space [11]
The York County Astronomical Society [12]
Scope City [13]