Star profile

Alioth

Epsilon Ursae Majoris · Ursa Major

Variable star

3D likeness based on its real data · class A · ~8,500 K

What is Alioth

Alioth is the brightest star of the Big Dipper and the first of the four that trace its bowl. Its name, derived from the Arabic «alyat», once designated the fat tail of the celestial Bear. It belongs to a rare class of magnetic variables: its surface holds patches of heavy elements that rotate with the star and gently modulate its white light, 82 light years from here.

Where it is and when to see it

Alioth lies in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is February, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it never sets and culminates about 86° up.
From New York it never sets and culminates about 75° up.
From Sydney it culminates about 1° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 34° S.

It is the brightest of the 124 stars of Ursa Major in our catalogue, which makes it the best starting point for finding your way around the constellation.

The light you see today left it about 83 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Alioth

Constellation: Ursa Major
Apparent magnitude: 1.76
Distance: 82.6 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 193.507° · Dec 55.960°
Catalogue: HIP 62956 · HD 112185

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Other stars in Ursa Major

Ursa Major has 124 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 124 stars in Ursa Major