Circumpolar star

What is a Circumpolar Star?

A circumpolar star is a special star that never goes below the horizon. This means that if you live in certain places on Earth, you can see these stars every night of the year! These stars appear close to one of the celestial poles—the points in the sky that are like the north and south poles of Earth.

Why Are They Special?

Because circumpolar stars stay above the horizon all night, they look like they are moving in circles around the sky. But they never disappear! This makes them very helpful for people who want to find their way or tell time at night.

Where Can You See Them?

The stars you can see as circumpolar depend on where you live. If you are closer to the North or South Pole, more stars will stay above the horizon all the time. For example, from places like London, stars such as Capella and Deneb are always visible. In places closer to the South Pole, stars like [Crux](/wiki/Crux_(constellation are always above the horizon.

Fun Star Groups

Some groups of stars, called constellations, can also be circumpolar. From places in mid-northern latitudes, such as parts of Europe and North America, well-known circumpolar constellations are Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, and Cassiopeia. These constellations are always there, helping people enjoy the night sky every night!