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The simple answer: "at the North Pole".

A more detailed answer:

ALL stars are "circumpolar" in the sense that they seem to rotate around points above the Earth's poles (called the "celestial poles"), as the Earth turns.

But we use that word to mean stars that are close enough to the poles of the sky so that they don't rise or set at the observer's latitude.

By that definition, the stars that are 'circumpolar' from any location are those

that have "declinations" not less than 90 degrees minus your latitude. Declination is a measure of how far a star is from being above the Earth's equator.

Polaris, the "pole star", has a declination of nearly 90 degrees, and is almost exactly above the Earth's North Pole.

The greatest possible geographic latitude is 90 degrees, at either pole, so

that's where the greatest possible amount of sky is 'circumpolar'.

At the north pole, half of the entire sky is visible at any time the sky is clear,

during the six months of "night". No star ever rises, and none ever sets. Each

one just goes around and around the sky, parallel to the horizon and never

moving higher or lower in the sky.

And you never see anything that's in the

OTHER half of the sky.

At the other extreme ... for an observer standing on the Equator, nothing in

the sky is circumpolar, and you can see every celestial object sooner or later.

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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.


What range of declination makes stars appear circumpolar?

Subtract your latitude from 90° and that will give the the decollation of circumpolar stars. In northern New Zealand, my latitude is 35°. If I subtract that from 90°, I get 55°. So stars with Declination great than 55° are circumpolar for me.


What is a circompular star?

A circumpolar star is a star that, due to its position relative to the Earth's celestial poles, never sets below the horizon for observers at certain latitudes. In the Northern Hemisphere, stars like Polaris remain visible all night throughout the year, while in the Southern Hemisphere, stars such as Alpha Centauri can be circumpolar. The exact stars that are circumpolar depend on the observer's latitude; the closer one is to the poles, the more stars can be seen as circumpolar.


Why does the number of circumpolar constellations depend on the latitude of the observer?

As an observer moves away from the equator, towards the north or south pole, there are more constellations that the rotation of the earth does not ever block from his or her view throughout one full rotation.


The compass needle always points to what star?

The needle of a compass can point to any star you'd like it to. Just flip and turn the compass and the needle will be in different directions, poinling to different stars. But a compass isn't anything to do with stars. Tatyana Martynova

Related Questions

What is a star that never sets at latitude?

Stars near the north celestial pole and the south celestial pole become "circumpolar" at high latitudes. They "circle around the pole". For example, the star Polaris never sets anywhere in the northern hemisphere. Constellations like the Big Dipper, Draco or Cassiopeia are "circumpolar" north of about 30 degrees north latitude. While there is no "south pole star", a constellation such as the Southern Cross is circumpolar south of about 40 degrees South.


Is Orion a circumpolar?

No. All circumpolar constellations are found near the celestial poles. Because of their proximity to the poles, they never disappear from view. Sagittarius is on the ecliptic and thus (like all other zodiac constellations) not close enough to the poles to render it circumpolar.


How many circumpolar stars would you see if standing on the equator?

Standing on the equator, you would not see any circumpolar stars. Circumpolar stars are those that never dip below the horizon, and they can only be seen from latitudes above a certain threshold, typically around 25 degrees (North or South) or higher. The closer you are to the poles, the more circumpolar stars you can see.


When circumpolar stars can be seen?

Circumpolar constellations are those that never set below the horizon. The further north (or south) one travels, the more constellations are circumpolar. Where I live, above the 45th parallel, most of the Big Dipper stars are circumpolar, but Arcturus is not, and the constellation of Orion sets below the horizon in the summer. Equatorial constellations are those that pass directly overhead when one is between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. I believe these are primarily the 13 constellations of the zodiac.


What characteristic classifies a constellation as circumpolar?

Circumpolar, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Technically, a circumpolar constellation is one that never sets, but just goes around the elevated pole. That's the north star Polaris in the northern hemisphere, or the blank spot of space above the south pole. This, however, depends on your latitude; the higher your latitude, the more constellations are "circumpolar" for you. I live near Sacramento, CA, USA, at latitude about 38 degrees north, so any constellation within 38 degrees of Polaris is "circumpolar" for me. That includes constellations such as Ursa Major, Cassiopeia, and Draco, but not constellations like Orion.


What is the formula for calculating whether a star is circumpolar viewed from a northerly latitude?

To determine if a star is circumpolar (never sets) when viewed from a northerly latitude, you can use the formula: 90° - latitude + declination >= 0. If the result is greater than or equal to zero, then the star is circumpolar from that latitude. The declination is the star's angular distance north or south of the celestial equator.


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.


What range of declination makes stars appear circumpolar?

Subtract your latitude from 90° and that will give the the decollation of circumpolar stars. In northern New Zealand, my latitude is 35°. If I subtract that from 90°, I get 55°. So stars with Declination great than 55° are circumpolar for me.


Does it snow more in the rocky mountains or the north pole?

It snows more in the north pole


Why does the number of circumpolar constellations depend on the latitude of the observer?

As an observer moves away from the equator, towards the north or south pole, there are more constellations that the rotation of the earth does not ever block from his or her view throughout one full rotation.


Why do some constellations such as ursa minor are visble in the sky year round other constellations appear for only part of the year?

What constellations are circumpolar (visible all year, at any time of the night) depends on your latitude. If you are (for example) at a latitude of 50° north, then any start that is 50° or less from the sky's north pole will never go below the horizon. For a more detailed explanation, read the Wikipedia article on "Circumpolar star".


What pole do polar bears come from?

Polar bears live only at the North Pole, or, more correctly, in the Arctic.