Definition of Mizar
astronomy
: a group of stars of the second magnitude that is located near Alcor in the handle of the Big Dipper
- Alcor and Mizar, in the bend of the handle of the Big Dipper, are actually a complex system. Alcor is a binary and Mizar is a quadruple system of two binary stars. Keen eyes can usually split Alcor and Mizar into individual stars, but you'll need a telescope to resolve the other companions.
- —Becky Ramotowski, San Antonio Express-News, 21 June 2011
Note:
Although historically called a star, what we know as Mizar is actually a set of four separate stars, tightly bound together in two pairs by gravity.
