Which star is the brightest in the constellation Ursa Major?

The brightest star in the constellation Ursa Major is actually not Epsilon Majoris. The correct answer is actually a different star, Alkaid (Eta Ursae Majoris), which is part of the Big Dipper asterism within Ursa Major.

Epsilon Majoris, also known as Alioth, is indeed one of the prominent stars in Ursa Major, but it is not the absolute brightest. When discussing star brightness, it's key to focus on the concept of apparent magnitude, which measures how bright a star appears from Earth. In comparison, stars like Polaris, which is prominent in the northern sky, belongs to the constellation Ursa Minor, while Antares and Aldebaran are part of the constellations Scorpius and Taurus, respectively.

Understanding the distinction between light sources is crucial in astronomy, as each constellation has its own unique characteristics and notable stars. Noting that only stars within Ursa Major, like Alkaid and Dubhe, vie for the title of the brightest can help to clarify any confusion regarding other stars mentioned.