Monday, April 17, 2017

The Letter N: North Star


We’re up to the letter “N” in our A-Z challenge tour of heavenly bodies.  There is only one constellation that begins with an N, Norma, which is located in the southern sky and isn’t well known.  But there is the “North Star” which is we’ll explore today.  My apologies for readers living in the southern half of our globe because you may have never seen this star as it stands high over the Celestial North Pole.   The star is also known as Polaris (from Polaris Stella, Latin for North Star, not to be confused with Stella Artois or “star of Artois, the brewer).  It is actually a triple star.  Polaris A is a super-giant, with Polaris Ab orbiting about 2 billion miles out and Polaris B is orbiting at a distance of 240 million miles.  The star luminosity is 2500 times that of our sun, but because of the distance from earth (430 light-years) it is only the 50th brightest star in the heavens.   Although the star seems to remain steady, it is just off the true celestial north, and actually tightly circles the globe.
Time delay photo showing stars circling the North Star

The North Star hasn’t always been the North Star (see letter D for Draco), nor will it remain the North Star forever.  But we won’t have to worry about finding another north star during our lives as it will come the closest to the pole in 2100.  During the age of exploration, the North Star helped ships as they made their way across the Atlantic and when slavery was allowed in the United States, the “Dippers” and the North Star guided those fleeing slavery as they made their way north and on to Canada.


Polaris is the last star in the handle of the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor of the Little Bear).  It can be easily found by looking at the two stars at the cup end of the Big Dipper and following them to Polaris.  On a dark night, one can see the entire little dipper constellation.  The constellation, Ursa Minor or “The Little Bear” represents Arcas, Callisto’s son by Jupiter.  When Jupiter decided to place Callisto in the sky, he placed her son next to her, changing them into a bear.  I suppose Jupiter wasn’t just a seducer of mortals, he had a heart as seen in this kind act.    

12 comments:

  1. The North Star Males a Great Start into the third week of the A to Z challenge! I loved all of your posts so far, unfortunately I don't have enough time to comment all of them.

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  2. It is interesting that there is so much history in the stars. Another great post, thanks for sharing.
    Stopping by from A to Z: N for Never Let You Go
    Shari

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  3. Fascinating info about the north star. I've never been able to see the little dipper. One day, little bear, I will find you.

    A to Z 2017: Magical and Medicinal Herbs

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  4. Norma? That's interesting. You've really inspired me to get out and begin stargazing more seriously. (if I can navigate dogs and insects well enough to do so)

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  5. I can usually find the North Star, if it's a clear night.

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  6. The North Star, dippers, and Orion's belt are the few things I have a chance of finding in the sky.

    N is for Operation Northwoods

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  7. I'd heard of this one but didn't know all that info you posted.

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  8. Lovely post, friend Sage ... I know the Big Dipper and the Northern Star very well ... looking at them every nite, uhm, if it's not snowing ... smiles ... Happy belated egg day, too ... smiles ... Love, cat.

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  9. Whenever I read huge numbers and light years, my eyes glaze over. I can barely imagine what a year is or a mile. I'm very limited in my distance and time assessments. Still I love reading about our stars and what's out there beyond my comprehension. Great N post today.

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  10. I thoroughly enjoyed this post, Sage. I plan to work backwards through all your A-Z posts, because I am very interested in astronomy, and your post is full of neat information. The big dipper was the first constellation I learned, and from it I was able to learn the North Star's location easily. I've been rereading James Mitchener's "Hawaii," and it was fascinating to read about how the Bora Borans sailed into the unknown and found Hawaii. The book is a novel, I know, but it was really poignant to read about their sadness at their familiar southern constellations disappearing forever as they sailed north in their huge canoe, and then their excitement and wonder when they found a fixed star in the north to help them navigate. I hope that you had a lovely Easter!

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  11. The North Star is one I can find most of the time. It fascinates me to think about people finding their way by looking at the stars.

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  12. I agree with Connie -- it must be wonderful to be able to find your way around by the stars.

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