Polaris

Also known as Alpha Ursae Minoris, α Ursae Minoris, North Star, North pole star, Pole star, Polestar, Stella Polaris, Pole-star

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Wikidata facts

Distance from Earth: 432
Radius: 30
Mass: 6
Image: Polaris alpha ursae minoris.jpg

Show 19 more facts

catalog code: UBV M 8201
Commons category: Polaris
parallax: 3.3
apparent magnitude: 0.52
right ascension: 37.954560670
absolute magnitude: -3.64
spectral class: F7:IB-IISB,V
luminosity: 2200
stellar rotational velocity: 13
declination: 89.264108970
effective temperature: 5793
radial velocity: -16.7
metallicity: 0.00
surface gravity: 44
native label: Gwiazda Polarna
right ascension component of proper motion: 47
declination component of proper motion: -4
P8168: Ágrip af Nóregskonungasögum
age estimated by a dating method: 70

Sources (5)

via Wikidata · CC0

~24 min read

Article

14 sections

Contents

Stellar system
Observation
Variability
Role as pole star
Names
Distance
In popular culture
Vexillology
Heraldry
Ships
Gallery
See also
Notes
References

Polaris is a yellow supergiant star in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Minor. It is designated α Ursae Minoris (Latinized to Alpha Ursae Minoris) and is commonly called the North Star. With an apparent magnitude that fluctuates around 1.98, it is the brightest star in the constellation and is readily visible to the naked eye at night. The position of the star lies less than 1° away from the north celestial pole, making it the current northern pole star. The stable position of the star in the Northern Sky makes it useful for navigation.

Although appearing to the naked eye as a single point of light, Polaris is a triple star system, composed of the primary, a yellow supergiant designated Polaris Aa, in orbit with a smaller companion, Polaris Ab; the pair is almost certainly in a wider orbit with Polaris B. The outer companion B was discovered in August 1779 by William Herschel, with the inner Aa/Ab pair only confirmed in the early 20th century.