Star lore
Dubhe
Direct answer
Dubhe is Alpha Ursae Majoris, an orange giant forming the upper outer corner of the Big Dipper's bowl.
Dubhe is the upper Pointer star used with Merak to locate Polaris.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Related
- Kochab, Pherkad, Merak, Megrez
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The story behind Dubhe
Dubhe’s Arabic-derived name refers to the bear, preserving Ursa Major's inherited figure.
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Why Dubhe matters
Dubhe’s line with Merak is one of the most widely taught naked-eye routes to the north celestial pole.
How to read Dubhe
Draw a line from Merak through Dubhe and extend it about five times to reach Polaris.
Dubhe in practice: an example
Dubhe's warm hue differs from most other Big Dipper stars because it is not part of their principal moving group.
Where readings of Dubhe go wrong
The pointer extension is approximate and points to Polaris, not the exact celestial pole.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- IAU Division C Working Group on Star Names - Official IAU working group responsible for standardizing star names used in international astronomy.
- CDS SIMBAD Astronomical Database - Professional astronomical database for stellar identifiers, positions, classifications, and bibliography.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
Point from Dubhe toward north
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Common questions
What is Dubhe?
Dubhe is Alpha Ursae Majoris, an orange giant forming the upper outer corner of the Big Dipper's bowl.
What do people get wrong about Dubhe?
The pointer extension is approximate and points to Polaris, not the exact celestial pole.
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