Megrez

Megrez is a star in the constellation Ursa Major, also known as the Great Bear. It is one of the seven stars that form the asterism known as the Big Dipper (also called the Plough in some cultures). Specifically, Megrez is located in the handle of the Big Dipper, and it marks the point where the handle connects to the bowl.

Megrez is a relatively faint star compared to other members of the Big Dipper. Its apparent magnitude is approximately 3.3, making it the dimmest star in the asterism. It is a white main-sequence star of spectral type A3V.

Located approximately 81 light-years from Earth, Megrez is smaller and less massive than the Sun. It is a member of the Ursa Major Moving Group, a collection of stars that share a common origin and move together through space. The Ursa Major Moving Group includes most of the bright stars in Ursa Major.

The name "Megrez" is derived from the Arabic al-maghriz, meaning "the base [of the tail]." This refers to its position at the base of the tail (or the point where the handle joins the bowl) in the constellation Ursa Major, which is traditionally depicted as a bear.