Why the north star polaris appears stationary

This is a view from underneath the earth's south pole looking straight up to the north star near the middle of the circular celestial grid. The earth is rotating at much faster than once per 24 hours in this video to show the effect of how the north star appears to stay more or less in the same place relative to the other stars. Polaris is however moving through space gradually as all stars slowly revolve around the centre of the galaxy once every 226 million years. When we look up at night it will always appear to be in the same place while the other stars pivot around it. Thus it is useful for finding north on a clear night.

In 18,000 years it will cease to be the north star as star Vega replaces it. Star Thuban used to be the north star when the Pharaohs were alive. It is about 1 degree off north currently. The precession effect is where the earth's rotation around its axis is not entirely perfect. It wobbles slightly and its axis projects a circle ahead into space every 25000 years, rather than a perfect single point.

By permission and thanks to Celestia software.

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Category:

Education

Tags:

• polaris
• north
• star
• astronomy
• universe
• cosmos
• galaxy
• stars
• orbit

[igotapk]

what about now? the big dipper doesn't point to polaris, and it moves rapidly so where is it?

[Honda3001]

@igotapk One of my other videos shows how two of the stars in the Big Dipper "point" towards Polaris see: youtube.com/watch?v=I7m61DnPqv­E Not sure if that is what you meant by your question.

[StopNWO11]

Kinda wierd that polaris also moves with us directly above us at exactly the same course.... hmm me thinks Earth is the center if this universe that is much smaller than the black hole head "experts" will have us know

[Honda3001]

@StopNWO11 Well the earth is surrounded by millions of stars all located in the milky way galaxy's spiral arms. Polaris just happens to be above us right now. In the time of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs another star occupied the position of north star. Polaris moved into position since then as the stars revolve around the centre of the galaxy. 

[SJisBack]

@Honda3001 Your explanation is not entirely correct. Stars do revolve around the center of Milky way. The rotation of earth creates a wobble like a spinning top wobbles. This is called Precession of equinoxes. so the rotational axis of the earth as it projects on to the space forms a circle. This takes about 25,000 years. Thuban was the star in Draco at the during pharaohs time. Polaris is not exactly aligned to the axis but slightly off. In about star 18,000 years it would be star Vega in Lyra.

[Honda3001]

@SJisBack Yes you are absolutely right. I was not overly precise in my comment under the video because I was mostly trying to show the effect visually. I have modified it in line with what you said for completeness.

[SeekTruthAlways1]

@StopNWO11 LOL good answer, maybe the so called 'smart scientists' these days dont know what there talking about. Maybe the reason we cant figure out ancient cultures such as the Aztecs and others because they were smarter than us? Maybe the law of thermodynamics is right, "Over time, things will decay and become worse", it must also apply to humans so called 'wisdom' too.

[Vintagerun]

Earths not the centre of the universe you ego-maniacs and probably plays a very small part in the universe maybe if you realised this we could start saving our planet instead of flying away into the sky.......also check out my songs :)

[beinsured]

@Honda3001 = thank you for adding your explanation to how it appears which helps..

[SeekTruthAlways1]

lol It looks like someone is trying to prove Heliocentricity but it dont work, seems like Geocentricity explains the north star perfectly pivoting above us. Maybe that Scripture is true, 1 Chronicles 16:30, Psalms 93:1, Psalms 96:10 , Isaiah 66:1, Acts 7:49 and earth is the center of the universe...