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of the bowl of the dipper. They are called the Pointers, because they point toward the pole star, as shown by the
Fig. 51.—Ursa Minor. dotted line. This is the central star of the map. It is called Polaris.

The pole star belongs to the constellation Ursa Minor, the Lesser Bear; the rest of the constellation you will see by following a curved line of stars from the pole toward XVI hours. You will thus fall on another star as bright as Polaris but a little redder in colour. This is Beta Ursæ Minoris.

If you cannot see the pointers you will still easily find Polaris if you know the exact north, because it is nearly midway between the zenith and the northern horizon—nearer the latter, however,
Fig. 52.—Cassiopeia. the farther south we are. It can be easily distinguished from its neighbour, Beta, by its whiter colour, Beta being slightly red or dingy in comparison.

On the opposite side of the pole, at the same distance as Ursa Major, is Cassiopeia, the Lady in the Chair. The chair has a very crooked back but could be made comfortable by a cushion in the hollow.

There are several other constellations in the region