Why does the north star appear to be fixed?
By shelagh77
@shelagh77 (3643)
April 29, 2007 7:54pm CST
I was asked this question recently and since I know that sailors use the North star for navigation I was pretty certain I knew all about the North star.
Wrooooongggg!
Here is an interesting link
http://ms.essortment.com/northstarastro_rmdz.htm
I was amazed by what I read, basically the North star changes stars every 5,000 years, it is always the brightest in its constellation.
You might like to read the above link, it kept my engrossed for quite a time!
1 person likes this
3 responses
@shelagh77 (3643)
•
3 May 07
Did you find it as fascinating as I did? It is fixed, but it isn't always the same star. Sort of like one of those paradox things people are always tormenting our brains with.
@coolricky (137)
• India
30 Apr 07
Well I never knew about it.
You hadgreat link thanx for the facts you provided......
1 person likes this
@shelagh77 (3643)
•
3 May 07
glad you liked it! I am always reading interesting bits and pieces on the internet and I thought that one was mind blowing. Not only that the star is not always the same, but how they worked it all out!
@shelagh77 (3643)
•
1 Aug 07
Have you done much star gazing since, and do you see the stars? I am still puzzling over the fact that although the stars take turns to be the North star it never fails to help the sailors navigate on the open seas.
