celestial pole
Heavens' rotation point
Either of two points on the celestial sphere where Earth's axis of rotation, extended infinitely, would intersect the sky.
The north celestial pole lies near Polaris; the south celestial pole has no bright star to mark it.
Stars appear to rotate around these fixed points as Earth spins: Long-exposure photographs show star trails circling the celestial pole.
Celestial north marker
- precessionRotating axis gradually reorients
- nutationOscillation in rotation axis
- circumpolarAround the pole
- declinationAngular distance from equator
equinox · solstice · ecliptic · zenith · nadir · meridian · azimuth · altitude
Celestial north marker
- north starOrienting life principle
- ArcticEarth's northernmost zone
- circumpolarAround the pole
- aurora borealisHigh-latitude luminous sky phenomenon
midnight sun · boreal · Ursa Minor · Little Dipper · Ursa Major · Big Dipper · Cassiopeia · Cepheus
Celestial north marker
- wayfindingNavigating through physical spaces
- sextantMaritime angular measurement device
- astrolabeAncient altitude-measuring instrument
- latitudeGeographic or personal freedom
compass · bearing · course · mariner · seafaring · nautical · quadrant · dead reckoning
Southern hemisphere constellation
- aurora australisAntarctic atmospheric light display
- southern hemisphereRegion below the equator
- CentaurusSouthern centaur constellation
- star trailsApparent stellar motion paths
Polaris
Celestial north marker
- precessionRotating axis gradually reorients
- nutationOscillation in rotation axis
- circumpolarAround the pole
declination · equinox · solstice · ecliptic · zenith · nadir · meridian · azimuth · altitude · culmination
Polaris
Celestial north marker
- north starOrienting life principle
- ArcticEarth's northernmost zone
- circumpolarAround the pole
aurora borealis · midnight sun · boreal · Ursa Minor · Little Dipper · Ursa Major · Big Dipper · Cassiopeia · Cepheus · Draco
Polaris
Celestial north marker
- wayfindingNavigating through physical spaces
- sextantMaritime angular measurement device
- astrolabeAncient altitude-measuring instrument
latitude · compass · bearing · course · mariner · seafaring · nautical · quadrant · dead reckoning · chart
Crux
Southern hemisphere constellation
- aurora australisAntarctic atmospheric light display
- southern hemisphereRegion below the equator
- CentaurusSouthern centaur constellation
- astronomy termseclipse, solar eclipse, lunar eclipse, star, meteor shower
- celestialsun, moon, stars, planet, planets
- Chinese astronomyarmillary sphere, star charts, star maps, gnomon, lunar calendar
- celestial navigationsextant, astrolabe, nautical almanac, Polaris, North Star
- Egyptian astronomySirius, star maps, Nut, Orion, lunar calendar
- astronomystars, moon, sun, planet, planets
celestial polecelestial equator
Sphere's midplane above us
vernal equinox · autumnal equinox · zenith · ecliptic · nadir