fixed star
Seemingly stationary luminary
A fixed star is a star that appears stationary relative to other stars, as opposed to planets, which visibly wander across the night sky.
The term dates from ancient astronomy, when the celestial sphere was imagined as a dome with stars fixed in place.
Modern usage is rare, since we now understand that all stars move—just imperceptibly from Earth over human timescales.
Celestial north marker
- SiriusNight's most luminous point
- VegaLyra's alpha star
- BetelgeuseRed supergiant star
- RigelBlue supergiant star
Arcturus · Aldebaran · Antares · Canopus · Deneb · Capella · Altair · Regulus
Not varying at all
- immutableIncapable of being changed
- steadfastFirmly loyal, unshakeable
- permanentFixed without end
- enduringPersisting through time
eternal · unwavering · invariable · stable · resolute · immovable · abiding · unalterable
Intrinsic brightness of source
- main sequenceStable stellar burning phase
- red giantAged star with cooled, expanded envelope
- white dwarfExhausted star's compact corpse
- supergiantHuge luminous evolved star
binary system · photosphere · hydrogen fusion · solar mass · chromosphere · starlight
Polaris
Celestial north marker
- SiriusNight's most luminous point
- VegaLyra's alpha star
- BetelgeuseRed supergiant star
Rigel · Arcturus · Aldebaran · Antares · Canopus · Deneb · Capella · Altair · Regulus · Castor
unchanging
Not varying at all
enduring · eternal · unwavering · invariable · stable · resolute · immovable · abiding · unalterable · reliable
luminosity
Intrinsic brightness of source
- main sequenceStable stellar burning phase
- red giantAged star with cooled, expanded envelope
- white dwarfExhausted star's compact corpse
supergiant · binary system · photosphere · hydrogen fusion · solar mass · chromosphere · starlight