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Pole star. A pole star is a visible star that is approximately aligned with the axis of rotation of an astronomical body; that is, a star whose apparent position is close to one of the celestial poles. On Earth, a pole star would lie directly overhead when viewed from the North or the South Pole.
Polaris is the brightest star in the constellation of Ursa Minor (upper right). Big Dipper and Ursa Minor in relation to Polaris. A view of Polaris in a small telescope. Polaris B is separated by 18 arc seconds from the primary star, Polaris A. A 4-day time lapse of Polaris illustrating its Cepheid type variability.
In about 5,500 years, the pole will have moved near the position of the star Alderamin (Alpha Cephei), and in 12,000 years, Vega (Alpha Lyrae) will become the "North Star", though it will be about six degrees from the true north celestial pole. To find Polaris, from a point in the Northern Hemisphere, face north and locate the Big Dipper ...
Sigma Octantis is a solitary [9] star in the Octans constellation that forms the pole star of the Southern Hemisphere.Its name is also written as σ Octantis, abbreviated as Sigma Oct or σ Oct, and it is officially named Polaris Australis (/ p oʊ ˈ l ɛər ɪ s ɔː ˈ s t r eɪ l ɪ s /). [10]
The stars Merak (β Ursae Majoris) and Dubhe (α Ursae Majoris) are known as the "pointer stars" because they are helpful for finding Polaris, also known as the North Star or Pole Star. By visually tracing a line from Merak through Dubhe (1 unit) and continuing for 5 units, one's eye will land on Polaris, accurately indicating true north.
The star Polaris, often called either the "Pole Star" or the "North Star", is treated specially due to its proximity to the north celestial pole. When navigating in the Northern Hemisphere , a simple and quick technique can be used with Polaris to determine the observers latitude or, for larger maritime vessels can be used to calculate any ...
The asterism of the Big Dipper (shown in this star map in green) lies within the constellation of Ursa Major. The Big Dipper (US, Canada) or the Plough (UK, Ireland) [1][2] is a large asterism consisting of seven bright stars of the constellation Ursa Major; [3][4][5][6] six of them are of second magnitude and one, Megrez (δ), of third magnitude.
Vega was the northern pole star around 12,000 BCE and will be so again around the year 13,727, when its declination will be +86° 14′. [19] Vega was the first star other than the Sun to have its image and spectrum photographed. [20] [21] It was one of the first stars whose distance was estimated through parallax measurements.