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Polaris (or the North Star) is almost directly above the North pole. This means that when you stand on the north pole and look directly up, you will see Polaris. This also means that when you stand at the equator and look directly north, you will see Polaris on the horizon. You can not see Polaris from the Southern Hemisphere.
The angle Polaris is above the horizon is equal to the degree latitude that you are standing on. Therefore at the equator, Polaris is 0 degrees above the horizon and at the north pole, Polaris is 90 degrees above the horizon.
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThe vertical angle between your northern horizon and the place in the sky where
you see Polaris is very nearly the same angle as your north latitude.
Since your 'north latitude' is negative in the Southern Hemisphere, Polaris is a
negative angle above the northern horizon there. In other words, it's below the
horizon, and this whole trick doesn't work at all in the southern hemisphere.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoIf you use a sextant to measure the angle of elevation for the star Polaris, the elevation is your latitude, within about 3/4 of a degree. Polaris is not PRECISELY above the north pole; it's about 3/4 of a degree off.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoIt is a constant relationship, because if the altitude of Polaris is 40, the latitude would be 40 degrees north, as for any other altitude.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe vertical angle between Polaris and the northern horizon is the same as the
north latitude of the place where you're standing, within about 1/3 of a degree.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agois a very bright star
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Polaris is used as a celestial reference point for earth's latitude system because polaris?
Polaris is located over Earth's axis of rotation, hence, the reference point for earth's latitude system.
How are the altitude of polaris and latitude of an observer related?
angle it makes with respect to horizon is equal to observers latitude. i.e. Philadelphia latitude 40 degrees so Polaris 40 degrees above horizon
How can you determine your latitude in the northern hemisphere just by using a star?
The angle between the north star and your northern horizon is approximately the same as your latitude north of the equator.
How does the position of Polaris help people?
There are a couple of reasons that make Polaris, the north star, very useful. First of all, Polaris is not DIRECTLY above the North Pole; it's about two thirds of a degree off. But that's close enough so that if we assume that Polaris is exactly above the North Pole, you won't go very far off. So if you can see Polaris, you know which direction is north. If you measure the elevation angle above the horizon of Polaris, your reading is your latitude. No calculation is necessary!
If Polaris is 20 degrees from your zenith what is your latitude?
Within 1/2 degree of 70N. Polaris is not EXACTLY above the North Pole; it is about 0.6 degrees from it.
How does the altitude of Polaris change with latitude?
the altitude of polaris is same as the latitude of your location assuming that you are in the northern hemisphere
What is the relation between a particular latitude and the angle of polaris above the horizon at that latitude?
whatever latitude you are at, that is the angle to polaris.. and the other way around
How to calculate Polaris?
Find your latitude and that is the altitude of Polaris in the sky.
If you measure polaris at an altitude of 60 degrees where are you on earth?
If Polaris appears 60° above the northern horizon, then you are pretty near 60° north latitude. If you're on the equator ... 0° north latitude ... then Polaris is on the horizon ... 0° altitude. If you're at the north pole ... 90° north latitude ... then Polaris is over your head ... 90° altitude. The altitude above the northern horizon at which Polaris appears is nearly identical to your north latitude. ================================================= The difference (error) between Polaris and the real North Celestial Pole is about 0.7 degree. Not good enough for precise navigation or surveying, but just fine for directions when you're hiking.
How do you figure out your latitude if you can't see Polaris?
Latitude is going across.
Polaris is used as a celestial reference point for earth's latitude system because polaris?
Polaris is located over Earth's axis of rotation, hence, the reference point for earth's latitude system.
What is the altitude or polaris in utica?
43 degrees because the altitude of polaris is equal to the latitude of utica.
What would be the altitude of Polaris the North star for an observer located at 64oN latitude?
The altitude of polaris for an observer is always the same as your latitude so it would be 64oN
How are the altitude of polaris and latitude of an observer related?
angle it makes with respect to horizon is equal to observers latitude. i.e. Philadelphia latitude 40 degrees so Polaris 40 degrees above horizon
What makes polaris useful for night-time navigation?
Polaris just happens to be positioned almost (but not quite exactly!) above the North Pole. So if you are facing Polaris, you are facing almost exactly north. If you measure the altitude of Polaris as an angle above the horizon, you can read your latitude directly on your sextant. It isn't exact; you need to apply a small correction based on the date and time, but it's the easiest latitude measurement you'll ever do. Even without the correction, it is only off by about 2/3 of a minute of arc, or 40 minutes of latitude.
What is the latitude of polaris?
It is 89 deg 16 min, approx.
Why does the number of circumpolar constellations depend on latitude?
Circumpolar Constellations are those that appear to circle the North Star, Polaris. Polaris' place in the sky changes based on the viewers latitude. The closer you get to the North Pole, the higher in the sky Polaris appears, and therefore the more constellations appear to spin around Polaris.
