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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Some articles on pole star:
... On the use of the sighting tube to fix the position of the pole star, Shen Kuo wrote Before Han times it was believed that the pole star was in the center of the sky, so it ... in the sky which really does not move was a little more than 1 degree away from the summit star ... I then tried to find the true pole by means of the tube ...
... book reconstructs a myth of a heavenly mill which rotates around the pole star, and grinds out the world's salt and soil, and is associated with the maelstrom ... millstone falling off its frame represents the passing of one age's pole star (symbolized by a ruler or king of some sort), and its restoration and the overthrow of the old king ...
... In Japan, the Pole Star was represented by Myouken Bosatsu, ja妙見菩薩 ... In the Greek Magical Papyri the Pole star was identified with Set-Typhon, and given authority over the Gods ...
42 Draconis is presently the northern pole star of Venus. ...
... may have been designed in accord with the pattern of stars composing the constellation Draco ... The star pattern of the constellation Draco fits with fair precision to the Serpent Mound, with the ancient Pole Star, Thuban (α Draconis), at its geographical center ... through the backward motion of precessionary circle of the ecliptic when Thuban was the Pole Star ...
Famous quotes containing the words star and/or pole:
“Our star was brighter perhaps when it had water in it.
Now there is no question even of that, but only
Of holding on to the hard earth so as not to get thrown off,
With an occasional dream, a vision ...”
—John Ashbery (b. 1927)
“This man was very clever and quick to learn anything in his line. Our tent was of a kind new to him; but when he had once seen it pitched, it was surprising how quickly he would find and prepare the pole and forked stakes to pitch it with, cutting and placing them right the first time, though I am sure that the majority of white men would have blundered several times.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)