The Big Dipper is actually not a constellation, but an asterism - a recognizable pattern of stars within a constellation. It's part of the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear).

Here are the seven stars that make up the Big Dipper, from the bowl to the handle:

* Dubhe: The top star of the bowl

* Merak: The star next to Dubhe

* Phecda: The bottom-left star of the bowl

* Megrez: The star between Phecda and the handle

* Alioth: The brightest star in the dipper, part of the handle

* Mizar: The middle star in the handle

* Alkaid: The end star of the handle

Remember, these stars are just part of the larger constellation of Ursa Major.