How can you find the Big Dipper using the Little Dipper?

Answer:
You know the "outside" pair of stars in the Big Dipper's "dipper" part point "up" across Draco to the Little Dipper. Fairly simple and easy.

If you can find the Little Dipper, you can locate the Big Dipper by lining up a pair of the "dipper" stars to find Ursa Major. Use the star in the "bottom" of the "dipper" part of the Little Dipper nearest the handle. Draw a line from that star "out" and "across" the "dipper" part of Ursa Minor to the "upper" and "outer" star of the dipper. If you follow that line on across Draco, you'll end up at Ursa Major. Your line will go "into" the "dipper" part of the Big Dipper.

Use the link below to see a diagram. It says it all. Place your cursor on the frame to see the lines drawn in, and roll your cursor out of the frame and the lines will disappear. You'll see the stars as they appear in the sky.

First answer by Quirkyquantummechanic. Last edit by Quirkyquantummechanic. Contributor trust: 3691 [recommend contributor recommended]. Question popularity: 2 [recommend question].