Alkaid — Estrella en Osa Mayor

Alkaid (also known as Benetnash) is a blue estrella de secuencia principal of tipo espectral B3V, located a unos 101 años luz de la Tierra. At magnitude 1.86, it is the third brightest star en la Osa Mayor and marks the tip of the Carro Mayor's handle (or the tail of the Great Bear). With a luminosity about 594 times that of el Sol and a temperatura superficial of roughly 15,500 K, it is one of the hottest stars easily visible to the simple vista.

The end star of the Carro Mayor's handle, Alkaid is easy to find from the hemisferio norte. It appears as a bright blue-white star. Follow the arc of the Dipper's handle past Alkaid to 'arc to Arcturus' — a famous navigation trick. Visible year-round from mid-latitudes boreales, but best placed in the cielo nocturno from March through August when the Carro Mayor rides high overhead.

The name Alkaid derives from the Arabic 'al-qa'id,' meaning 'the leader' — specifically the leader of the mourners following a celestial funeral bier (the bowl of the Dipper being the bier). The alternate name Benetnash comes from Arabic 'banat na'sh,' meaning 'daughters of the bier.' Unlike the five inner stars of the Carro Mayor, Alkaid is not a member of the Ursa Major Moving Group and will eventually cause the Dipper's shape to distort over thousands of years.