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Circumpolar Stars are always in the night sky.
These constellations always appear in the sky.They never sink below the horizon. They can be seen no matter what the season. North Pole - the Northern HemisphereThe northern hemisphere's constellations circle around the North pole. The North Star is almost directly over the North Pole. Therefore, the northern circumpolar stars seem to circle the North star.In the Northern Hemisphere, there are 6 such constellations (above lat. 40?N). The designation of 40 degrees north latitude passes through Philadelphia, Columbus, Ohio, and just south of the northern California border. The constellations are:
SouthPole - the Southern HemisphereSouthern hemisphere constellations don't circle around a star, because there is no "south star'. The point where it would be if it existed is called the South Celestial Pole. The longest axis of the constellation Crux, the Southern Cross points almost directly to the spot where the "south star" would be if it existed.In the Southern Hemisphere, there are 11 constellations which circle the south celestial pole. They tend to be smaller than their northern counterparts, so there are more of them. The constellations are:
By knowing the circumpolar stars you will know the main constellations. Then it will be easier to pick out the new ones as the seasons change. A star map will show you where the stars are in your neck of the woods. Star maps are also available in astronomy magazines. Some constellations are very noticeable during certain seasons. The pages on each season always highlight them. Return to Nature in Winter from Circumpolar Stars
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