Polaris
Star in Ursa Minor · 432.6 light-years
🔭 Explore Polaris in the 3D map →View Polaris images →| Type | Star |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Ursa Minor |
| Right ascension | 2h 31m 47s |
| Declination | +89° 16′ |
| Object distance | 432.6 light-years |
| Apparent magnitude | 1.97 |
| Also known as | Spectral type F7:Ib-IIv SB |
The current northern pole star, sitting almost exactly above Earth’s north axis, so it appears fixed while the sky wheels around it. A pulsating supergiant.
Observing Polaris
Polaris lies in the constellation Ursa Minor and is best placed in the evening sky around October. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. It sits far enough north to be circumpolar from mid-northern latitudes, and never rises for most of the southern hemisphere. At its brightness it can be found with the unaided eye under a dark sky and is easy in binoculars.
See Polaris in Universe Finder
Open the interactive 3D map to fly to Polaris and see it in context among the real stars around it. Launch the 3D view →
Sources
- Position and distance from the HYG stellar database (Hipparcos · Yale Bright Star · Gliese).
- Object identity cross-referenced with SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg).
- Image credits and the original observation source are linked with each photograph.
Related objects
- The Sun — star
- Proxima Centauri — star
- Barnard's Star — star
- TRAPPIST-1 — star
- Sirius — star