An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

The Lesser Bear. A constellation situated in the northern hemisphere, at about 15h right ascension, +79° declination. Its two brightest stars, both of 2nd magnitude, are → Polaris, the present pole star, and → Kochab. Abbreviation: UMi, Genitive: Ursae Minoris.

Ursa,from L. ursus "bear," cognate with Pers. xers, as below; Minor "smaller, less," from minus related to L. minuere "make small;" cf. Gk. meion "less," minuthein "to lessen;" Skt. miyate "diminishes, declines;" O.E. minsian "to diminish;" PIE base *mei- "small."

Xers "bear," dialectal Tabari aš; Mid.Pers. xirs, Av. arša- "bear;" cf. Skt. rksa- "bear;" Gk. arktos; L. ursus; PIE base *rtko- "bear;" kucak "small;" Mid.Pers. kucak "small," related to kutâh "short, small, little," kudak "child, infant," kutulé, → dwarf; Mid.Pers. kôtâh "low," kôtak "small, young; baby;" Av. kutaka- "little, small."

A dwarf spheroidal galaxy of faint luminosity that is a member of the Local Group.

→ Ursa Minor; → system.