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POLARIS

Polaris, known as the North Star, is a yellow-white supergiant located near the North Celestial Pole, serving as a crucial navigational guide. It is part of the constellation Ursa Minor and is a binary star system, with its primary star being a Cepheid variable that fluctuates in brightness. The document includes activities for locating Polaris using the Big Dipper and evaluates understanding through true/false statements.

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5 views

POLARIS

Polaris, known as the North Star, is a yellow-white supergiant located near the North Celestial Pole, serving as a crucial navigational guide. It is part of the constellation Ursa Minor and is a binary star system, with its primary star being a Cepheid variable that fluctuates in brightness. The document includes activities for locating Polaris using the Big Dipper and evaluates understanding through true/false statements.

Uploaded by

sherlyann.ochavo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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POLARIS: THE NORTH STAR

Objectives:

• Define what is Polaris.


• Demonstrate how the position of Constellations changes
in the course of a night
• Adhere the importance of Polaris in the night sky.
Introduction
Polaris: The North Star

Polaris. For centuries, it has been used by n


and explorers to find their way as an astrolo
compass.
For millennia, it has been the subject of anc
significant mythology.
For decades, it has been studied and researc
astronomers.
Polaris: The North Star
Polaris is commonly known as North Star. It is a brightest star in the
constellation Ursa Minor (Little Dipper). It is located near the North
Celestial Pole, making it a vital celestial guide for navigation and
timekeeping. Polaris is the star in the center of the star field; it shows
essentially no movement.
It is known as the North Star because its location appears almost
stationary in the sky. This is due to Earth's rotation around its axis.
Location in the Night Sky
Finding Polaris
To find Polaris, locate the Big
Dipper, an easily recognizable
constellation.

Use the Pointer Stars


Follow the two stars at the end of
the Big Dipper's bowl, known as the
Pointer Stars, to find Polaris.
Polaris is a yellow-white
supergiant, while our
own Sun is considered a
yellow dwarf. It’s
composed almost entirely
of hydrogen and helium,
like all stars.
Binary Cepheid Variable Star
Binary Nature
Polaris is a binary star system, meaning it's
composed of two stars orbiting a common center of
gravity.
1

Cepheid Variable
The brighter star in the system is a
Cepheid variable, meaning its brightness
fluctuates periodically.
Polaris A (The Primary Star) is the
closest known Cepheid variable star
to Earth, making it crucial for
astronomical distance
measurements.

Polaris Ab (The Close Companion)


Despite being relatively close to
Polaris A, Polaris Ab is difficult to
observe directly due to the
brightness of its massive
companion.

Polaris B (The Distant Companion)


is far enough from Polaris A that it
can be seen with small telescopes.
1

2
GROUP ACTIVITY:

Each group will be given bond papers


with dots, and they will locate the north
or Polaris by tracing the Big Dipper and
the Little Dipper. (Remember that Polaris
is part of the Little Dipper. This
constellation is composed of seven stars,
three in the handle and four in the head
of the spoon. The Little Dipper is found
above Big Dipper. Polaris is the last star
in the handle of the Little Dipper.
EVALUATION:

Answer the following exercise. Write T if the statement is TRUE and F if the
statement is FALSE.

1. Polaris is also known as the Little Dipper.

2. The other name for Little Dipper is Ursa Minor.

3. Polaris is located very close to the north celestial pole.

4. Polaris is the first star in the handle of the Little Dipper.

5. Polaris stands “motionless” in the sky.


ASSIGNMENT:

Make a research and study how constellation is used by Matigsalug


Manobo of Bukidnon.

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