How to see the 'Horse and Rider' in the Big Dipper's handle this summer

image via Space.com

June 9, 2025, 8:00 PM

• •Mizar, a star in the Big Dipper's handle, has a fainter companion star named Alcor, also known as the "Horse and Rider."
• •The Big Dipper is an asterism, useful for locating Polaris, the North Star, and visible for most latitudes.
• •Mizar is a binary star, and further observations reveal other celestial objects, including a red giant star and a galaxy.
• •The Big Dipper is slowly changing shape due to the different movements of its stars, and will be noticeably different in the distant future.

The text explores the Big Dipper, focusing on Mizar and its companion Alcor, also known as the "Horse and Rider". It discusses the Big Dipper's importance in skywatching, particularly for locating Polaris. Additional celestial objects near the Big Dipper are revealed, including a red giant and a galaxy. Finally, it explains the gradual reshaping of the Big Dipper due to the movement of its stars over time.

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