Polaris

You can use the Big Dipper to find Polaris, which is also known as the North Star. Notice that a line from the two outermost stars in the bowl of the Big Dipper points to Polaris. And notice that Polaris marks the tip of the handle of the Little Dipper.

Polaris is about 430 light-years away from Earth, or 4.07 * 1018 meters, or 2.53 * 1015 miles.

China.

Almost directly above the North Pole.

Polaris is at its upper culmination once every 23hours 56minutes 4seconds. (rounded)

It happens when the local celestial meridian is equal to Polaris' right ascension, and

that's a different time every day of the year.

Probably your best source would be the staff of a local planetarium, or a local

astronomy club in your town. Phone them up, be nice about it, give them a few

dates that you're interested in, and they'll be happy to look up the times of

Polaris' upper culmination on those days for you.

It always appears due north in the sky and is a reasonably bright star

NO!

It is estimated at approx 130 parsecs but more recent papers put it much lower: at around 100 pc.

From Antarctica, for example.

Merak and Dubhe.

Yes it is. Other names are Stella Polaris(the pole star), Setlla Maris(the ship star), the steering star, and tou-mu(chinese goddessnof the north star)

Polaris is a yellow super-giant with two smaller companions, Polaris Aa has a radius which is 46 +/- 3 times the Sun's radius.

Where on Earth are you if Polaris is on your horizon?

These are called circumpolar constellations.

It is useful because it is directly above Earth's north pole so if you were traveling north, you would know what to follow

Polaris is not a constellation but it is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor, the Little Bear. Polaris is not a single star just like half of all known stars are not single stars like our sun but are normally in a system of two or more stars. Polaris is part of a system that is four stars. It's closest companion known as Polaris Ab is easy to see in a small telescope.

The sun is the closest star to earth.

Yes. The sun is about 5778°K. Polaris is about 6900°K.

The question cannot be answered because it is based on a false premise that Polaris is the brightest star.

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.

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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 far Polaris appears above the horizon depends on your latitude in the Northern Hemisphere. The closer you are to the North Pole, the higher Polaris will appear in the sky, reaching nearly 90 degrees at the pole itself. Conversely, as you move toward the equator, Polaris will appear closer to the horizon, disappearing entirely for observers in the Southern Hemisphere. Thus, your geographic position determines the elevation of Polaris in your local sky.

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