Which constellation is traditionally called the Great Bear?

The constellation traditionally called the Great Bear is Ursa Major.

Its Latin name means “greater bear,” distinguishing it from nearby Ursa Minor, the Little Bear. Ursa Major is one of the best-known northern constellations and contains the Big Dipper, also called the Plough in some traditions. The Big Dipper is an asterism, not the entire constellation.

Ursa Major was among the 48 constellations listed by the astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century AD, drawing on older Greek and Near Eastern astronomical traditions. Its bear imagery is also preserved in many later cultural traditions, including Hindu, Finnish and several Native American interpretations.

The constellation covers about 1,280 square degrees, making it the third-largest officially defined constellation. In the Northern Hemisphere, its bright stars are especially useful for navigation: the two stars at the front of the Big Dipper point toward Polaris, the North Star, which lies in Ursa Minor.