Map of the Universe
Polaris
Star · Northern pole-star; brightest star in Ursa Minor
About Polaris
Polaris is about 432.57 light-years from the Sun, so the light we see from it left about 432.57 years ago.
At apparent magnitude 1.97 it can be seen with the naked eye from a dark site.
It gives out 2.5e+03 times as much light as the Sun.
The map lists it as a star and shows it among the stars around the Sun, drawn on the plane of the Milky Way.
Its distance or nature is debated, and the map shows one published value.
Distance contested: estimates range from about 323 to 521 ly.
Key numbers
| Distance | 432.57 light-years (132.63 pc) |
|---|---|
| Spectral type | F7:Ib-IIv SB |
| Apparent magnitude | 1.97 |
| Absolute magnitude | -3.64 |
| Luminosity | 2.5e+03 × the Sun |
| Constellation | UMi |
Where it is
Its place in the universe, from the inside out: Solar neighbourhood › Local Bubble › Orion–Cygnus Arm (Local Arm) › Milky Way › Local Group › Virgo Supercluster › Laniakea Supercluster › Observable universe.
Zoom out to see it in context: 1,000 light-years, a view about 2,400 light-years across.
From Wikipedia
Polaris is a yellow supergiant star in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Minor. It is designated α Ursae Minoris and is commonly called the North Star. With an apparent magnitude that fluctuates around 1.98, it is the brightest star in the constellation and is readily visible to the naked eye at night.
Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Polaris, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.