Chapter 1
Finding our way in the dark
Chapter 2
The surprising science of Polaris
Chapter 3
The changing crowns of the sky
YOUR GOAL
Master of The North Star
Ch 3 · The changing crowns of the sky
sonia Polaris Guiding Star
Polaris leads the way, a constant guide so true, But Earth's slow wobble means its role is ever new.
Fun Fact
Future stars: In about two thousand years, a star named Errai will replace Polaris as our closest North Star.
Glossary
axial precession (noun)
The slow, top-like wobble of Earth's axis over a 26,000-year cycle. It's the reason future stargazers will look to Vega, not Polaris, to find north.
The slow, top-like wobble of Earth's axis over a 26,000-year cycle. It's the reason future stargazers will look to Vega, not Polaris, to find north.
Quiz
Which star did the ancient Egyptians use as their North Star when building the Pyramids?
Quiz
What is currently the closest equivalent to a 'South Star' for the Southern Hemisphere?