From September 17-19, thousands of Minnesotans will look to the night skies and celebrate Ursa Minor, the state’s official constellation and home of Polaris, our beloved North Star.
Ursa Minor became the official constellation of the state of Minnesota in 2025. Ursa Minor is also known as the little dipper. Its stars make a shape like a ladle. Ursa minor’s brightest star is Polaris, the north star, and is at the end of the handle of the dipper.
Polaris is called the north star because it always is located due north and is useful for navigation in the northern hemisphere. That’s why Ursa Minor is a fitting constellation for Minnesota, whose state motto is “The Star of the North.”
Find a star party at host sites across the state: bellmuseum.umn.edu/statewide-star-party-2026
