Check out the Big and Little Dippers

Brotoiu Radu in Breaza, Prahova, Romania, captured the Big and Little Dippers – also known as Ursa Major and Minor – on March 10, 2018. Canon 5D MKI, Canon 28mm, F2.8, ISO 3200, 16 sec.

Gary Peltz of Seattle also captured the Big Dipper, in a dark sky. Can you pick it out? Hint: The 2 outermost stars in the Dipper’s bowl are nearly at the top of the photo. This is approximately the configuration in which you’ll see the Big Dipper on a March evening. Photo taken March 10, 2018, at Deception Pass, Washington. “Our first campout of the season on a beautiful spring-like weekend in western Washington!” Gary wrote.

Bottom line: Photos of the Big and Little Dippers, March 2018.

Deborah Byrd

Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.