Answer to Question #187052 in Astronomy | Astrophysics for Jeya

Question

Where in the night sky can you observe the famous double star system Mizar and Alcor?

Answer 1

Mizar and Alcor are the stars in the constellation of Ursa Major. They can be found in the handle of the asterism called the Big Dipper as the second star from the end of the handle. Mizar is clearly visible to the naked eye, but Alcor is much fainter. Ursa Major is a circumpolar constellation, so Mizar and Alcor are clearly visible in the Northern Hemisphere, the system is ~35 degrees from the Northern Celestial Pole.