Pi Ursae Minoris [SEP] constellation
Pi Ursae Minoris
The Bayer designation Pi Ursae Minoris (π UMi, π Ursae Minoris) is shared by two star systems, π Ursae Minoris and π Ursae Minoris, in the constellation Ursa Minor. They are separated by 0.64° on the sky.
- π Ursae Minoris
- π Ursae Minoris
, while his countryman Johann Elert Bode subsequently added iota to phi. Only lambda and pi remain in use, likely because of their proximity to the north celestial pole. Within the constellation's borders, there are 39 stars brighter than or equal to apparent magnitude 6.5.
Marking the Little Bear's tail, Polaris, or Alpha Ursae Minoris, is the brightest star in the constellation, varying between apparent magnitude 1.97 and 2.00 over a period of 3.97 days. Located around 432 light-years away from