FIXED STARS: Major Stars | 1000+ Stars | Constellations | About

Phecda at 00°29′ Virgo has an orb of 2°10′

The Sun joins Phecda on August 23

Fixed star Phecda, Gamma Ursae Majoris, is a 2nd-magnitude binary star system on the thigh the Great Bear, Ursa Major Constellation. It is also one of the four bright stars that form the bowl of the Big Dipper.
      Magnitude 2.44, spectral type A0Ve + K2V, color white.
      Phecda is the primary component in an astrometric binary star system that also includes a class K companion. In astrometric binary systems, the companion cannot be detected visually. Its presence is only inferred based on the primary star’s wobble around a point in space. This indicates that it has an unseen companion and that the two stars are orbiting around a common centre of mass (barycentre). Several studies have failed to detect the companion, suggesting that the wobble effect may be misleading. ^[1]

γ UMa is officially named Phecda.
      Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of its modern Arabic name fakhidh al-dubb al-akbar, “the Thigh of the Greater Bear.” ^[2]

γ, 2.5, topaz yellow. Phacd and Phachd, Phad, Phaed, Phecda, Phekda, and Phegda are all from Al Faḣdh, “the Thigh,” where this star is located in the figure.
      Al Bīrūnī said that it was Pulastya, one of the Hindu Seven Sages.
      The Chinese knew it as Ke Seuen Ke, and as Tien Ke, another Armillary Sphere. ^[3]

In Chinese astronomy, γ UMa is located in the asterism 北斗 Běidǒu, “Northern Dipper,” and is known by the following traditional names:
      北斗三 Běidǒusān, “3rd star.”
      天璣 Tiānjī, “The Celestial Shining Pearl.”
      禄存 Lùcún, “Standing-official salary.”
      令星 Lìngxīng, “Star of commander.”
      軍市西北星 Jūnshìxīběixīng, “Star in the northwest of Market for Soldiers.”
      真人 Zhēnrén, “Daoist spiritual master.”
      囚宿 Qiúsù, “Constellation of prisoner.”
      次桃花 Cìtáohuā, “Next peach blossom.”
      祸害 Huòhài, “Disaster.” ^[4]

Phecda was used in ancient China to divide the seasons and to formulate calendars, guided by the handle of the Dipper. The Book of Jin records: “The Big Dipper has seven stars… the third is called Ji, which governs the order,” clearly indicating its important position as a benchmark for observing celestial movements. ^[5]

2000*	2050	Name	Orb
27♌55	28♌37	Al Jabhah	1°40′
29♌50	00♍32	Regulus	2°30′
00♍29	01♍12	Phecda	2°10′
07♍28	08♍11	Thuban	1°40′
08♍56	09♍39	Alioth	2°20′

Phecda Astrology

Fixed star Phecda has the spectral type A0 + K2, indicating a planetary nature, similar to that of Venus and, to a lesser extent, Mars.

VENUS-MARS.   Shameless, vain, self-indulgent, abandoned, violent passions, danger of seduction, riotous living but often self-respecting and decent. ^[6]

The Venus-like stars in Ursa Minor emphasize Venus’s harsher nature, as both bears have an “evil reputation”. ^[7]

AL HECDA. γ Ursae Majoris.
      A large yellow star in the great Bear. This star is also called Phact. Spectral class KO.
BASIC INFLUENCES:   This star imparts to its natives a drive to excell, get ahead, much activity, power, authority and negatively destruction, bad morals, anxiety, turbulence, self-destruction. ^[8]

Phachd, Gamma Ursae Majoris.
      Phecda, the third-largest star of the Great Bear, also called Phacd (Thigh of the Bear) corresponds to Mars, with the added touch of Uranus and Neptune. As it is so very far distant from the ecliptic, its influence perhaps is not felt very much. In conjunction with a planetary malefic, it is said that this star is a possible cause of “a great blood bath”. In conjunction with Neptune, and provided relevant configurations with Moon, Venus and Mars are also present, it is an indication of a pathological sex nature. The power of this fixed star is a distinct one in mundane astrology. ^[9]

At 0° Virgo is the next Ursa Major star, γ Al Phecda. The name is, again, anatomical: the Thigh of the Bear. In the Dipper it is at the bottom of the pan, below the handle joint, Only 32′ past Regulus, it should not be seen as a major symbol in itself, but rather as a reminder to those in power that strength, as in Bear, is only a part of their majesty; provision for others, as in the Big Dipper, is what they are holding in trust. And if that Dipper does happen to be panning for gold, so well and good, but that too is to be shared if any of it is to be safely kept by the finder. A Jupiter-Venus simile seems needed here, to modify the Mars-Jupiter of the Star of Kings. ^[10]

Lu Cun Star.
      In Chinese astronomy, fixed star Phecda is the third star of Běidǒu, the “Northern Dipper” asterism, within the Zǐ wēi yuán, “Purple Forbidden Enclosure.” It is known as Tiānjī, “The Celestial Shining Pearl,” and Lùcún, “Standing-official salary,” but is most commonly referred to as Lu Cun.
      In Chinese astrology, Phecda is the star of wealth and nobility. It governs human wealth and rank. ^[5]
      Phecda is a very auspicious star, bringing good fortune, but wealth must be acquired through hard work. It is considered a primary star for resolving difficulties and mitigating misfortune and negative influences. ^[11]

Constellation Ursa Major

URSA MAJOR. The Greater Bear.
      Legend.   Callisto, daughter of Lycaon, king of Arcadia, of whom Jupiter was enamored, became a follower of Diana on account of her love of hunting. Jupiter sought Callisto by assuming the form of Diana, and Juno  who discovered the intrigue turned Callisto into a bear. Angry that the bear was placed in heaven, Juno requested her brother Neptune never to let those stars set within his kingdom, and for this reason they are always above the horizon in Europe. To account for the length of the bear’s tail [because in reality bears don’t have tails], it is said that Jupiter, fearing her teeth, lifted her by the tail, which became stretched because of her weight and the distance from earth to heaven.
      Influence.   According to Ptolemy, Ursa Major is like Mars. It is said to give a quiet, prudent, suspicious, mistrustful, self-controlled, patient nature, but an uneasy spirit and great anger and revengefulness when roused. By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Zain and the 7th Tarot Trump “The Chariot.”
      Magical.   Gives craft, ingenuity and valor. ^[6]

Astrologically both Bears were said to presage an evil influence. They are particularly injurious as regards to the affairs of nations and kings. ^[7]

Fixed Star Phecda Conjunctions

Ascendant conjunct Phecda: Good fortune, happiness, gifts, fortunate for love and marriage, gain by legacies and inheritance (Venus). ^[6]

Often plump, overweight, or obese. A round or square-round face, tall stature and a yellowish-white complexion. ^[5]

Drake 0°12′, Donald Trump 0°15′, Lorraine Warren 0°38′, Bernie Madoff 0°47′, Billy Bob Thornton 1°20′, Alan Leo 1°27′ (and Saturn), Nancy Pelosi 1°38′, Ricky Nelson 1°39′, Martin Luther 1°42′.

Midheaven conjunct Phecda: Honor and success, dealings with and help through women, success in occupations of a Venus nature. ^[6]

Prince 0°09′ (and Pluto), Jimmy Page 0°23′, Mata Hari 0°31′, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis 0°33′ (and Neptune), Bernadette Brady 0°38′, Clint Eastwood 1°30′ (and Neptune), Emily Dickinson 1°43′.

Descendant conjunct Phecda: Sylvia Plath 0°09′, Audrey Hepburn 0°51′, Adam Driver 1°06′, Maximilien Robespierre 1°45′, J. P. Morgan 1°49′, William S. Burroughs 1°56′

Imun Coeli conjunct Phecda: Rajneesh 0°46′, William F. Buckley Jr. 0°58′.

Part of Fortune conjunct Phecda: Martin Frankel 0°10′, Liza Minnelli 0°44′, Priyanka Chopra 1°15′, Michael Jackson 1°27′, Mariah Carey 1°31′, Nicholas Culpeper 1°38′, John Maynard Keynes 1°42′, Amy Lee 1°54′.

Sun conjunct Phecda: River Phoenix 0°09′, James Van Praagh 0°17′ (and Mercury), John III Sobieski 0°37′, Dave Chappelle 1°05′, H.P. Lovecraft 1°28′, Lipa 1°31′ (and Venus), George Wallace 1°42′.

Sun conjunct Phecda with Moon: Signifies brilliance. ^[5]

Moon conjunct Phecda: Alexei Navalny 0°03′, Benjamin Disraeli 0°11′, Margaret Thatcher 0°47′, Winston Churchill 0°54′, Walt Whitman 1′04, Richard Branson 1°50′, L. Ron Hubbard 1°52′, Klaus Barbie 1°52′. 

Mercury conjunct Phecda: Petrarch 0°01′, James Van Praagh 0°05′ (and Sun), Matt Prokop 0°09′, Gypsy-Rose Blanchard 0°36′, Hasan Piker 0°49′, Alan Dershowitz 0°57′, William Bligh 1°16′, Huw Edwards 1°42′.

Venus conjunct Phecda: Heinrich Himmler 0°07′, Alexander the Great 0°10′, Nayib Bukele 0°29′, Emmett Till 0°57′, Dua Lipa 1°07′ (and Sun), Monica Lewinsky 1°35′.

Mars conjunct Phecda: James VI and I 0°07′, F. Scott Fitzgerald 0°18′, Henry Ford 0°36′, Steven Spielberg 0°40′, Imelda Marcos 0°58′ (and Neptune), Caitlyn Jenner 1°02′, Viktor Orbán 1°18′ (and Uranus), Elizabeth Montgomery 1°24′, Sabbatai Zevi 1°26′ (and Uranus, N. Node), Princess Diana of Wales 1°43′ (and N. Node), Ariana Grande 1°46′.

Jupiter conjunct Phecda: Bill Maher 0°09′ (and Pluto), Whoopi Goldberg 0°11′ (and Pluto), Friedrich Merz 0°29′ (and Pluto), Tom Hanks 0°29′, Kris Jenner 1°07′ (and Pluto), Natalia Grace 1°10′, Peter Thiel 1°29′, Gavin Newsom 1°32′, Ronaldinho 1°59′, Louis XVI 2°00′.

Saturn conjunct Phecda: Emmanuel Macron 0°17′, Billy Joel 0°23′, Alan Leo 0°54′ (and AC), Volodymyr Zelenskyy 1°21′, Ho Chi Minh 1°32′.

Uranus conjunct Phecda: Jim Carrey 0°10′, Sean Hannity 0°19′, Sabbatai Zevi 0°24′ (and Mars, N. Node), Viktor Orbán 1°24′ (and Mars), Garry Kasparov 1°28′, Steve Irwin 1°37′, Johnny Depp 1°37′.

Neptune conjunct Phecda: In conjunction with Neptune and provided relevant configurations with Moon, Venus and Mars are also present, it is an indication of a pathological sex nature. [3]

Imelda Marcos 0°09′ (and Mars), Anne Frank 0°35′, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis 0°40′ (and MC), Audrey Hepburn 0°51′, Jane Roberts 0°53′, Andy Warhol 1°07′, Rolf Harris 1°17′, Clint Eastwood 1°24′ (and MC), Martin Luther King 1°25′, Anton LaVey 1°33′.

Pluto conjunct Phecda: Prince 0°04′ (and MC), Nancy Spungen 0°59′, Whoopi Goldberg 1°19′ (and Jupiter), Friedrich Merz 1°20′ (and Jupiter), Kris Jenner 1°24′ (and Jupiter), Bill Gates 1°30′, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán 1°39′, Nicole Brown Simpson 1°46′, Ellen DeGeneres 1°46′, Bill Maher 1°51′ (and Jupiter), Sid Vicious 1°57′.

North Node conjunct Phecda: Joe Biden 0°02′, Arthur Koestler 0°13′, Michael J. Fox 0°18′, Elizabeth I 0°18′, Jimi Hendrix 0°20′, Boy George 0°32′, Martin Scorsese 0°49′, Bezalel Smotrich 0°53′, Danielle Carolan 0°57′, Nick Fuentes 1°01′, Robert Hand 1°23′, Sabbatai Zevi 1°33′ (and Mars, Uranus), Princess Diana of Wales 1°45′ (and Mars), Teresa of Ávila 1°46′.

South Node conjunct Phecda: Harvey Weinstein 0°26′, Chris Brown 0°51′, Roman Polanski 0°56′, Donald Harvey 0°58′, Javier Milei 1°02′.

References

1. Phecda (Gamma Ursae Majoris): Star Facts.
2. A Dictionary of Modern Star Names, Kunitzch, Smart, 2006, p.56.
3. Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning, Richard H. Allen, 1889, p.438.
4. Ursa Major in Chinese astronomy.
5. Lu Cun – Baidu Encyclopedia.
6. Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923, p. 65, 101, 232.
7. Fixed Stars and Judicial Astrology, George Noonan, 1990, p.5, 7.
8. The Power of the Fixed Stars, Joseph E. Rigor, 1979, p.119
9. Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin, 1971, p.48.
10. The Living Stars, Dr. Eric Morse, 1988, p.146.
11. Lu Cun Star – Baidu Encyclopedia.