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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!

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What is polaris second name?

Polaris is a name given to whichever star is currently nearest to the celestial north pole. The position moves from one star to another. By the end of the 21st Century the celestial pole will move away from the current Polaris.In English, another name for Polaris is the North star.


How does Polaris rule support the shape of the earth?

the degree of polaris on the horizon is your latitude. Shows the curvature of the earth. When the degree of polaris is 1 degree greater, you move the some distance if you move another degree. Shows how everything is equally distant from the center.


The sailing crew lost its way on the open seas what celestial body will help them find their way home?

The sailing crew can use the North Star, also known as Polaris, to help them find their way home. Polaris is located almost directly above the North Pole, making it a reliable reference point for navigation. By determining the direction of Polaris in the night sky, the crew can orient themselves and plot a course back home.


What is polaris a name for?

Polaris is the name of the north pole star. It isn't EXACTLY above the North Pole, but pretty close; only about one-half a degree off. If you were to watch Polaris through the night, you wouldn't notice any movement, but in a long-time-exposure photo, you can see that Polaris makes a TINY circle around the perfect North.


Why will the Polaris not always be the pole star?

That's because of precession. In other words, the position of Earth's axis of rotation in space changes over time.

Related Questions

Does Polaris move when you move on earth?

Yes ! The Polaris Moves Comparatively To Earth !The Position Of The Polaris Is Not Constant .


What was Polaris named for?

Polaris is named because of it's position directly above the north pole.


What year did the polaris star form?

Cynosura, the current Polaris took up its position in the Roman Age.


What constellations does polaris help people find?

Ursa major and Ursa minor


What importance is the position of polaris to travelers?

It is almost directly due North.


What is the another name of pole star?

North star, or Polaris, is the name of a bright star that is CURRENTLY near the celestial north pole. Since the position of the north pole will change in the future, Polaris will still be called Polaris, but it will no longer be the north star.


What advantage is there in having a wheelchair that allows people to change position?

Changes of position relieve pressure and can help lessen the development of skin irritation. Changing position can also help some people breathe more easily.


Why does the big dipper change its position over night while the polar remain in its position?

The Earth's Orbit, its axis is aligned with Polaris.


Who is the present chairman for polaris?

Arun Jain is the present chairman and CEO of Polaris. For more details on getting a help desk job in Polaris or other MNC companies


What is the big dipper position in polaris?

It is the last star at the tip of the handle of the Little Dipper. The Big Dipper's first two bowl stars (often called the pointer stars) point towards Polaris, but Polaris is not in the Big Dipper.


What is the declination of polaris from Glasgow?

The "declination" of a star is its position in the sky on the celestial sphere, which stays the same for any observer.You may be thinking about how high Polaris is above the horizon.That's its "altitude".The altitude of Polaris always equals the latitude of the observer.That's been a great help to seafarers for centuries.Polaris has a declination of nearly 90 degrees.From Glasgow, its altitude in the northern sky is equal to the latitude of Glasgow.The latitude of Glasgow is about 55.9 degrees.So, the altitude of Polaris in Glasgow is about 55.9 degrees.


How many years does it take for the earth to move to a different position facing polaris?

about 25,000 years