Changes

At present, Polaris is the closest visible star to the north celestial pole, only 0.7 degrees away.  As such, the star is almost in a direct line with the Earth's [[axis]] of rotation.  From an observer on Earth, the star appears virtually motionless as the night goes on, with all the other celestial objects in the northern sky seemingly orbiting it.  At present, due to the [[precession of the equinoxes]], the celestial pole is actually moving closer to Polaris, and will reach its closest in the year 2105 before pulling away.<ref>http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/polaris.html</ref>

At present, Polaris is the closest visible star to the north celestial pole, only 0.7 degrees away.  As such, the star is almost in a direct line with the Earth's [[axis]] of rotation.  From an observer on Earth, the star appears virtually motionless as the night goes on, with all the other celestial objects in the northern sky seemingly orbiting it.  At present, due to the [[precession of the equinoxes]], the celestial pole is actually moving closer to Polaris, and will reach its closest in the year 2105 before pulling away.<ref>http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/polaris.html</ref>

Past pole stars include [[Beta Ursae Minoris]] from 1500 BC until 500 AD and Alpha Draconis ([[Thuban]]) in around 3000 BC. and [[Vega]] around 12,000 BC.<ref>Norton, Arthur P. (1973). Norton's Star Atlas. Edinburgh: Sky Publishing. p. 10. ISBN 0-85248-900-5.</ref>

Past pole stars include [[Beta Ursae Minoris]] from 1500 BC until 500 AD and Alpha Draconis ([[Thuban]]) in around 3000 BC.<ref>Norton, Arthur P. (1973). Norton's Star Atlas. Edinburgh: Sky Publishing. p. 10. ISBN 0-85248-900-5.</ref>

[[Category:Astronomy]]

[[Category:Astronomy]]