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Explain why polaris does not appear to move relative to the northern horizon during the year?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Because the Earth's axis of rotation currently points very near the star Polaris. This is a coincidence of timing; if we were living several thousand years ago, then it would be Vega that appeared to be fixed in the night sky (the Earth actually wobbles very slowly as it spins, taking about 23,000 years to make a complete circle).
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 7y agoBecause its almost directly above north pole, and Polaris represents the direction north.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe star Polaris is nearly perfectly aligned with our northern axis of rotation, so as the earth rotates it seems to us that all the stars are rotating around Polaris
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What is the altitude of polaris above the horizon at the tropic of cancer?
Polaris will be 23.5 degrees above the northern horizon when viewed from the Tropic of Cancer.
What is the altitude of polaris above the northern horizon for observer a?
90 degrees
What happens to the altitude of polaris as you move west?
The angle of Polaris above the northern horizon increases.
Where would be if the Polaris is seen on the horizon?
Your at the equator if you see Polaris at the horizon
What places on earth is polaris seen on the horizon?
Where on Earth are you if Polaris is on your horizon?
Where would you be if Polaris is seen on the horizon?
Your at the equator if you see Polaris at the horizon
What is the approximate latitude of Polaris in New York?
Polaris (the "North Star") doesn't have a latitude. But that's OK, because latitude is not what you're looking for. You're really trying to ask for its "elevation" ... the angle between the horizon and Polaris in the sky. That angle is equal to the observer's north latitude, so it would be easy to answer if we knew what location you're actually interested in. Here are a few possibilities: -- Massena NY . . . . . 44.9° above the northern horizon -- Rochester NY . . . . 43.2° above the northern horizon -- Buffalo NY . . . . . . 42.9° above the northern horizon -- 85th St Transverse in Central Park, Manhattan . . . 40.8° above the northern horizon
If you measure polaris at an altitude of 60 degrees where are you on earth?
If Polaris appears 60° above the northern horizon, then you are pretty near 60° north latitude. If you're on the equator ... 0° north latitude ... then Polaris is on the horizon ... 0° altitude. If you're at the north pole ... 90° north latitude ... then Polaris is over your head ... 90° altitude. The altitude above the northern horizon at which Polaris appears is nearly identical to your north latitude. ================================================= The difference (error) between Polaris and the real North Celestial Pole is about 0.7 degree. Not good enough for precise navigation or surveying, but just fine for directions when you're hiking.
The angle of the star Polaris above the northern horizon can be used to determine an observer's?
... lattitude.... lattitude.... lattitude.... lattitude.
How do you measure latitude by polaris?
Polaris (or the North Star) is almost directly above the North pole. This means that when you stand on the north pole and look directly up, you will see Polaris. This also means that when you stand at the equator and look directly north, you will see Polaris on the horizon. You can not see Polaris from the Southern Hemisphere. The angle Polaris is above the horizon is equal to the degree latitude that you are standing on. Therefore at the equator, Polaris is 0 degrees above the horizon and at the north pole, Polaris is 90 degrees above the horizon.
What is the altitude of Polaris on a clear night?
The altitude doesn't depend much on whether the night is clear.If you live in the northern hemisphere, the altitude of Polaris above the horizon will APPROXIMATELY be equal to your latitude. If you live in the southern hemisphere, Polaris will be BELOW the horizon, as many degrees as you are south of the equator.
To an observer in Buffalo NY the North Star Polaris is always located above the northern horizon at an altitude of approximately?
43 degrees
