Alcor
80 UMa (Ursa Major) · Ursa Major
Position (2026)
♍ 16°14' Virgo
Magnitude
3.99
Planetary Nature
Mars (robson)
Robson: Mars. The companion to Mizar in Ursa Major. Traditionally a test of eyesight.
Spectral Type
A5V SB
Alcor in Astrology
Alcor, the faint companion to Mizar in the Great Bear, carries Mars energy that bestows subtle discernment and the capacity to perceive what others overlook. It grants the native attention to fine details and the patience for close, careful examination. The traditional association with testing eyesight reflects a gift for seeing what is hidden in plain sight.
Mythology & History
Alcor, the tiny companion to Mizar in the handle of the Big Dipper, has been used as a test of visual acuity across many cultures. Arab astronomers called it al-Khawwar, 'the faint one,' and the pair of Mizar and Alcor was known as 'the horse and rider.' In ancient Rome, military scouts were reportedly tested for visual fitness by their ability to resolve the two stars. Despite its faintness, Alcor was given its own astrological identity with a Mars nature, suggesting a sharp, testing quality despite apparent insignificance.
Ursa Major Context
Alcor rides close to Mizar in the handle of the Big Dipper, part of Ursa Major. The pair forms one of the most famous optical doubles in the sky, and their proximity has inspired stories of hidden companionship and secret tests across dozens of cultures. In the funerary tradition of the Big Dipper, Alcor may represent a small attendant or weeping child accompanying the mourning daughters along the celestial bier. Its Mars nature combines with its faintness to produce a quality of hidden sharpness.
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