Alioth
Epsilon Ursae Majoris · Ursa Major
Position (2026)
♍ 9°18' Virgo
Magnitude
1.76
Planetary Nature
Mars (robson)
Robson: Mars. Epsilon Ursae Majoris.
Spectral Type
A0p
Alioth in Astrology
Alioth, in the tail of the Great Bear, carries Mars energy that bestows a tendency toward upheaval, disruption, and the demolition of outmoded structures. It grants the native the capacity for decisive, sometimes destructive action that clears the way for new growth. The temperament is dynamic and change-oriented.
Mythology & History
Alioth takes its name from the Arabic Alyat al-Hamal, though the exact derivation is debated: it may mean 'the fat tail of the sheep' from an older Arabian star figure that preceded the bear. Alioth is the brightest star in Ursa Major and the brightest star in the entire Big Dipper asterism, yet it receives less attention than the pointer stars or Mizar. Its Mars nature gives it an assertive, energetic quality. Alioth is notable for having one of the strongest magnetic fields among bright stars, a physical characteristic that resonates with its astrological reputation for magnetism and influence.
Ursa Major Context
Alioth sits in the middle of the Big Dipper's handle, which forms the tail of Ursa Major, the Great Bear. In the Arabian funerary tradition, it is the middle mourning daughter following the celestial bier. In the bear mythology, it is the midpoint of the unnaturally long tail that was said to have been stretched when Zeus grabbed it to hurl the bear into the sky. The middle position gives Alioth a quality of centrality and balance within the bear's most prominent feature.
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