Page 19 - Annonce 6

Why is the

Pole Star

Fixed?

For centuries, mankind has been able to determine Where Is the Pole Star in the Sky?
the direction they will go by taking the pole star Finding the Pole Star is pretty easy. But you should
as a reference on clear nights, where they cannot know that the pole star is not very bright. Many
determine their direction. So, why does the pole people think that the brightest star they see in the
star indicate a direction? sky is the Pole Star because it is taught to students
in schools as a very bright star.
Since childhood we have heard that the Pole Star
(Polaris or Iron Pile) is fixed and points north. Because it is not among the bright stars of the sky, it
Although, with the need for this information and can sometimes be difficult to find it directly under

the number of people watching the sky is sadly the light pollution of cities. There is a very practical
decreasing, there is great information behind it. method for this. One of the most easily identifiable
The pole star can be taken as a reference because constellations when you look at the sky is the Ursa
his location almost never changes during the night. Major constellation. Polaris is very easy to find
So, the other stars shift during the night. What then if you can see the ladle forming the Ursa Major
makes the pole star special? constellation in the sky. If you see it as a ladle, you
can use the two stars on the tip of the ladle as a

The sun moves from east to west during the day. marker. Polaris is located about five times forward
However, it is the Earth itself that actually moves. the distance between the duo.
Due to the Earth’s rotation, the stars also appear to
move during the night.

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