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Polaris

Polaris is Earth's current northern pole star, and thus is commonly referred to as the North Star. Historically, Polaris was used by sailors and navigators to determine their current latitude while crossing oceans. Please place all questions about Polaris, the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor, into this category.

500 Questions

Explain why the big dipper appears to make a complete rotation around polaris in 365 days?

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Asked by RandyWagner

The stars themselves do not move. (Well, they do, but so slowly that nobody can notice it over a lifetime.) The stars APPEAR to rise in the east and set in the west because the Earth itself is spinning like a top.

The North Pole Star, Polaris, is positioned - by a fortunate coincidence - directly over the north pole of the Earth's rotation. So Polaris does not appear to move (much). Because of the way the Earth is spinning, the stars near Polaris appear to spin around Polaris! So the big dipper and the little dipper appear to make enormous circles in the sky centered on Polaris, going around once per day.

How far is Polaris from Earth?

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Asked by Wiki User

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

Where is the Polaris located above the Earth?

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Asked by Wiki User

Almost directly above the North Pole.

How can I find upper culmination for polaris?

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Asked by Wiki User

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.

Why north star was important for navigation?

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Asked by Wiki User

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

What is the list of stars in the constellation Draco?

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Asked by Wiki User

Thuban


Rastaban
Etaman


Altais


Modus

Secundus


Aldhiban


Eldisch


Kuma


Grumium


Allsifi


Dsiban


What is the distance of earth to polaris?

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Asked by Wiki User

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

Where can Polaris not be seen?

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Asked by Wiki User

From Antarctica, for example.

Is polestar lodestar another name for north star?

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Asked by Wiki User

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)

Does Polaris reflect light?

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Asked by Wiki User

Polaris (North Star or Pole Star) has an apparent magnitude of +1.97 (Variable)

What is size of polaris star?

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Asked by Wiki User

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

What places on earth is polaris seen on the horizon?

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Asked by Wiki User

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

Constellations that circle polaris are?

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Asked by Wiki User

These are called circumpolar constellations.

Why is Polaris useful for navigation?

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Asked by Wiki User

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