Polaris etymology

Etymology

• Latin: Polaris ("polar [star]")
• Greek: πόλος (pólos, "pivot, axis, pole")

Meaning

Polaris means "star at the pole" and refers to the star that is currently the closest to the Earth's north celestial pole. This star is known as the North Star or Pole Star.

Origin

• The concept of a polar star dates back to ancient times.
• The ancient Egyptians used Thuban, a star in the constellation Draco, as their North Star around 3000 BC.
• As the Earth's axis precesses (wobbles) over a 26,000-year cycle, the north celestial pole changes.
• Polaris has been the North Star for approximately the past 1,200 years, and will continue to be so for the next 2,000 years.
• In the future, Vega (in Lyra) and Arcturus (in Boötes) will become the North Stars.

Polaris relate terms

• polar

  Etymology The word polar originates from the Greek word polos meaning axis pivot

• pole

  Etymology The word pole derives from the following roots Middle English pol Old

• pole

  Etymology The word pole derives from the following roots Middle English pol Old

• pole star

  Etymology Pole Star is derived from Late Latin stella polaris which means polar star

• Polaris

  Etymology Latin Polaris polar star Greek πόλος pólos pivot axis pole

• pole

  Etymology The word pole derives from the following roots Middle English pol Old

• star

  Etymology The word star derives from the Old English word steorra which in turn orig

• dipper

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• star

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• star

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