The Big Dipper is a famous asterism consisting of seven bright stars that form a ladle or plow shape in the northern sky. It is not a formal constellation but is part of the larger constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear. It is visible year-round in northern latitudes, making it easy to spot. The two stars at the edge of the bowl are "pointer stars" that guide toward Polaris, the North Star. The Big Dipper has held massive cultural significance, often used for navigation and storytelling, such as the Underground Railroad "drinking gourd" reference.