The term 'URSA' is the four-letter Latin word for 'BEAR, ' and it is also the name of the Great BEAR constellation, one of the most recognizable constellations in the night sky. URSA Major, or the Great BEAR, is a large northern constellation that contains several bright stars, including the Big Dipper asterism. It is visible throughout the year in the Northern Hemisphere and is one of the 88 modern constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union.