Phecda
Gamma Ursae Majoris · Ursa Major
Position (2026)
♍ 0°51' Virgo
Magnitude
2.41
Planetary Nature
Mars (robson)
Robson: Mars. Ptolemy gives stars in the loins of the Great Bear as Mars.
Spectral Type
A0V SB
Phecda in Astrology
Phecda, in the thigh of the Great Bear, carries Mars energy that bestows a forceful, direct approach to life and the capacity for vigorous physical and mental action. It grants the native an energetic, sometimes aggressive temperament that excels in competitive environments. Drive and initiative are pronounced.
Mythology & History
Phecda, also spelled Phad or Phekda, derives from the Arabic fakhidh al-dubb, meaning 'the thigh of the bear,' describing its anatomical position on Ursa Major. As one of the four stars forming the bowl of the Big Dipper, Phecda is part of the most recognized asterism in the northern sky. Unlike Alkaid and Dubhe, Phecda is a genuine member of the Ursa Major Moving Group, a physical association of stars traveling together through space, giving it an additional association with belonging to a genuine collective.
Ursa Major Context
Phecda marks the lower-left corner of the Big Dipper's bowl in Ursa Major. The Great Bear constellation has been recognized by cultures across the Northern Hemisphere for thousands of years: Native American traditions often see a bear, sometimes with hunters in pursuit represented by the handle stars. The bowl stars of the Dipper form the bear's body, with Phecda at the left haunch. Phecda's membership in the physical star cluster gives it an interesting astrological dimension: it is genuinely connected to its neighbors, not merely an optical alignment.
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