Ursa Major is a/an:  

Key Points

• Ursa Major is a constellation, which is a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern traditionally named after its apparent form or identified with a mythological figure.
• It is one of the most famous constellations in the night sky and is also known as the Great Bear.
• Ursa Major contains the asterism known as the Big Dipper, which is one of the most easily recognizable patterns in the sky.
• The Big Dipper's "pointer" stars can be used to find the North Star (Polaris), making it an important constellation for navigation.
• It is visible throughout the year in most of the northern hemisphere.

Additional Information

• The name "Ursa Major" is Latin for "Greater Bear," and its mythology can be traced back to several ancient cultures.
• In Greek mythology, Ursa Major is associated with the nymph Callisto, who was transformed into a bear and placed in the sky by Zeus.
• Ursa Major has been recognized and represented in various ways by different cultures, including Native American, Hindu, and Chinese traditions.
• The constellation is part of the family of constellations that includes Ursa Minor, Draco, and Boötes.
• Stars in Ursa Major are relatively close to Earth, and some of them are part of the Ursa Major Moving Group, a cluster of stars that share a common motion through space.