[13] Based upon parallax measurements, β Ursae Majoris is located at a distance of 79.7 light-years (24.4 parsecs) from the Sun.

The effective temperature of the outer envelope is about 9,225 K,[14] giving it a white-hued glow that is typical for A-type stars.

[14][16] Observation of the star in the infrared reveal an excess emission that suggests the presence of a circumstellar debris disk of orbiting dust,[14] much like those discovered around Fomalhaut and Vega.

As the members of this group share a common origin and motion through space, this yields an estimate for the age of Beta Ursae Majoris.

It bore the traditional name Merak derived from the Arabic المراق al-marāqq 'the loins' (of the bear).