Ask a Teacher

Search



WHAT DOES THE POLE STAR INDICATE ?
Known to the public as the North Star and to astronomers as Alpha Ursa Minor, Polaris is the brightest star found in the constellation of the Lesser (or Little) Bear.Alpha Ursa Minor was of course given a name reflective of a polar position or pivot point because it sits so near the point in the northern sky toward which the north pole of our planet points, and therefore appears from earthly perspective to be the point around which the whole celestial sphere circles.  Polaris thus holds a place of honor in the great celestial sphere as seen from Earth, though actually, this star is located about one degree of celestial longitude distant from the precise point toward which the north pole of our planet points.


comments powered by Disqus