Merak

astronomy

1. :  a blue star of the second magnitude that is seen in the constellation Ursa Major and forms part of the base of the Big Dipper The outer two stars in the cup of the Big Dipper are called Dubhe and Merak. Together, they are called pointer stars and direct you across the sky to the star Polaris, also called the North Star. — Knoxville (Tennessee) News-Sentinel, 4 Sept. 2008 —called also Beta Ursae Majoris