State Star, Dubhe & Astronomical Symbol, Beehive Cluster

The Utah State Centennial Star - Dubhe

The star, Dubhe, one of the seven bright stars composing the Big Dipper of the constellation Ursa major, is designated as the state centennial star.(House Bill 140, 1996) (Utah Code).

According to an article in the Salt Lake Tribune, January 22,1996, the star Dubhe (rhymes with tubby) in the Big Dipper was named the state centennial star because the light emitted from the star takes 100 years to reach us and, of course, 1996 was Utah's Centennial. Dubhe's 100 year light distance means it is 588 trillion miles from Earth. Another interesting note: Polaris, the brightest star in Ursa Minor (Little Dipper) can be easiest found by using Merak and Dubhe in Ursa Major as pointers.

When asked if the state really needed a state star and astronomical symbol, Rep. Marda Dillree, R-Farmington, sponsor of the bill, suggested that perhaps not but Utah has a diverse population with a multitude of interests.

Dubhe differs from other stars in the Big Dipper by having an orange hue.





State Astronomical Symbol - Beehive Cluster

The Beehive Cluster (also known as M44)

The state astronomical symbol is the Beehive Cluster located in the constellation of Cancer the Crab. (Utah Code).

Look at the upper right corner of the map above and locate Cancer and just below is M44.

Again, the Salt Lake Tribune in their January 22,1996 article, stated that Lawmakers passed House Bill 140 which designated a dim group of stars known as the Beehive Cluster as Utah's state astronomical symbol. A fact sheet about the bill gave the following reasoning for this designation. "This symbol, composed of a hive of stars, transposes our beehive symbol to a new and grand level as we enter our second century as a group of people living in a place where we can still see, with our own eyes, the beautiful and dim features of the starry universe".

M44, called Praesepe, or the Beehive, is located in the middle of the constellation Cancer, the Crab. It is one of the most prominent clusters, visible to the naked eye, but better viewed with binoculars and telescopes reveal hundreds of stars. Here is an excellent photograph of the Beehive Cluster.