Pole Star
A pole star is a visible star, preferably a prominent one, that is approximately aligned with the Earth's axis of rotation; that is, a star whose apparent position is close to one of the celestial poles, and which lies approximately directly overhead when viewed from the Earth's North Pole or South Pole. A similar concept also applies to other planets than the Earth. In practice, the term Pole Star usually refers to Polaris, which is the current northern pole star, also known as the North Star.
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Famous quotes containing the words pole and/or star:
“Oh Sleep! it is a gentle thing,
Beloved from pole to pole!
To Mary Queen the praise be given!
She sent the gentle sleep from Heaven,
That slid into my soul.”
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834)
“The sun descending in the west,
The evening star does shine;
The birds are silent in their nest,
And I must seek for mine.”
—William Blake (1757–1827)