Alpha (α) Ursae Majoris)

Alpha Ursae Majoris, commonly known as Dubhe, is a prominent star in the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear). It is a giant star that appears bright in the night sky, making it useful for navigation as part of the "Big Dipper" asterism. Dubhe is about 100 times brighter than the Sun and is located roughly 100 light-years away. Its orange hue indicates a cooler surface temperature compared to white or blue stars. As a giant star, Dubhe has expanded well beyond the size of the Sun and is in a later stage of stellar evolution.