Polaris (Star)
Contents
Image: Hubble Space Telescope image of
Alpha Ursae Minoris or Polaris showing
the three components that make up the
the triple star system, Aa, Ab and B.
Credit: NASA, ESA, N. Evans
(Harvard Smithsonian/CfA), and H. Bond (STScI)
Original image can be found by following this link.
Overview
Polaris, in the constellation Ursa Minor, is also known as as the Pole Star for it is located almost directly above Earth's north pole.
Locating Polaris
See 'How to find Polaris using the Plough'
Triple star system
Polaris is not one star but actually a triple star system consisting of Polaris Aa, Polaris Ab and Polaris B.[1]
References
[1] There's more to the North Star than meets the eye. Hubblesite.org 9/1/2006 - http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2006/02/fastfacts/
