Alcor

[ al-kawr ]

/ ælˈkɔr /

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Astronomy.

a star, the fifth-magnitude companion of Mizar in the handle of the Big Dipper.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

Origin of Alcor

Perhaps <Arabic al-khawr the low ground

To be able to see Alcor with the naked eye means that one has excellent eyesight.
Boy Scouts Handbook|Boy Scouts of America
A person with good eyesight can see quite near to it a fifth magnitude star, known under the name of Alcor.
Astronomy of To-day|Cecil G. Dolmage
Alcor is indeed distant from Mizar by about one-third the apparent diameter of the moon, yet no one would think so!
Astronomy of To-day|Cecil G. Dolmage
The naked eye perceives near it a smaller star, named Alcor.
Pleasures of the telescope|Garrett Serviss

Just above it is a very small star that astronomers call Alcor, or the rider.
Scouting For Girls, Official Handbook of the Girl Scouts|Girl Scouts