<P> Within Ursa Major the stars of the Big Dipper have Bayer designations in consecutive Greek alphabetical order from the bowl to the handle . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Proper Name </Th> <Th> Bayer designation </Th> <Th> Apparent magnitude </Th> <Th> Distance (l yrs) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dubhe </Td> <Td> α UMa </Td> <Td> 1.8 </Td> <Td> 124 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Merak </Td> <Td> β UMa </Td> <Td> 2.4 </Td> <Td> 79 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Phecda </Td> <Td> γ UMa </Td> <Td> 2.4 </Td> <Td> 84 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Megrez </Td> <Td> δ UMa </Td> <Td> 3.3 </Td> <Td> 58 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Alioth </Td> <Td> ε UMa </Td> <Td> 1.8 </Td> <Td> 81 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mizar </Td> <Td> ζ UMa </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 78 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Alkaid </Td> <Td> η UMa </Td> <Td> 1.9 </Td> <Td> 101 </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Proper Name </Th> <Th> Bayer designation </Th> <Th> Apparent magnitude </Th> <Th> Distance (l yrs) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dubhe </Td> <Td> α UMa </Td> <Td> 1.8 </Td> <Td> 124 </Td> </Tr>

What is the significance of the big dipper