what color is polaris

What Color is Polaris? [How Can You Find It]

Introduction 

Stargazing is fun and appealing. But not being able to see clearly with a telescope can be frustrating. We have all been there. 

But don’t lose hope because we have a detailed article for your better understanding. 

So, what color is Polaris?

The Polaris goes from yellow to white. Because it sometimes shines bright, and sometimes, it dims out. Besides, Polaris is a triple-star system. The primary star is the supergiant star because of its mass. That is six times of sun. The primary star is Polaris A, and the other two are Polaris Ab and b. 

Now you know the color of Polaris. But to understand elaborately, keep reading!

What is Polaris?

First, you have to understand what Polaris is. Well, Polaris is known as a north star. Because it stays still close to the northern celestial pole, at this point, the entire northern sky moves. Polaris indicates the north. 

But that does not mean it stays in the north of every planet. It is in the north only for earth and in a 2d space. The direction varies from world to planet. Also, it is a star of Ursa minor. 

However, unlike other bright stars, Polaris is less bright at night. But you can see it with the naked eye because it is only the 48th brightest star. Also, even on a full moon, Polaris can shine in the northern sky. 

As seen with the naked eye, it is used for navigation. Especially sailors use it to find their way and keep track. If anyone loses the direction, he can always look at the Polaris. And know the path of true north. 

Now you know what Polaris is. So, let’s not wait and get to our next segment. 

How to See It? 

As said earlier, Polaris can be seen with the naked eye. But you cannot see very clearly through eyes only.  First of all, you need a higher quality and aperture telescope. A 70mm telescope can make you see Polaris perfectly. 

Now, what you need to do is, take the help of a star pattern. It is a group of stars named the big dipper. In addition, it is the most famous star pattern in the northern hemisphere.  

To find Polaris, you have to search for the pointer stars of the big dipper. The pointer stars are Dubhe and Merak, respectively. These two stars outline the exterior section of the Big Dipper’s bowl. Also, these point to Polaris. 

This is why draw a straight line from Merak through Dubhe. Now, multiply the distance from Merak to Dubhe 5 times. And finally, complete the born space. You will find Polaris at the end of it. 

Well, you have found Polaris. What next? Seeing the color of Polaris that will be elaborated on in the next segment. 

What is the Color of Polaris? 

After finding Polaris, you can see it is a triple-star system. This means the single spot you have seen shining all along is three stars. They are orbiting a common center. The three stars are, 

Polaris A

It is called the primary star. Also, it is named a supergiant. Because it is six times the mass of the sun. And the radius is 37.5 times that of the sun. Besides, the surface temperature is 6000 k.  

Polaris Ab

It is the second star and orbits close to the primary star, 2 billion miles. This has a mass of 1.26 solar masses and a radius of 1.04 solar. Also, it emits three times the amount of light as the Sun.

Polaris B

It is the third star that orbits. Polaris B is roughly 240 billion kilometers away from Polaris A. This has a mass of 1.39 solar masses and a radius of 1.38 solar radii. 

Furthermore, Polaris Ab and B have the same temperature as Polaris A, even though both are dwarf stars. 

It is said that Polaris is 430 light-years away. Which makes it a luminous star as the distance is huge. But sometimes, it goes from bright to dim and vice versa. 

This is why the distance is not fully accurate. It is an assumption. 

So, Polaris is a yellow-white supergiant star with a luminosity of 2500 suns because it goes from yellow to white for the distance. 

Here the yellowish part is the primary star Polaris A. In addition, the whitish part is the two dwarf stars, Polaris Ab and B. 

So you know the color of Polaris. But this article cannot end without suggesting the best telescope to see Polaris. These will work out great for you. 

Celestron – 70mm Travel Scope DX – Portable Refractor Telescope
Telescopes for Adults, 70mm Aperture

These are the best telescopes you can use to see Polaris. These telescopes can reach distant objects easily.  Also, experience stargazing on another level!

FAQs 

Question: What is a falling star?

Answer: It is a meteor. Here, portions of the meteoroid hit the earth after surviving the burning process. And it is referred to as a meteorite. You might expect to see a lot of meteors in the night sky at certain periods of the year.

Question: What is the color of a shooting star?

Answer: The colors are red, white, and blue. A shooting star seems like a quick flash of white light to the bare eyes. However, it shows a wide range of colors on their way toward earth. The order of these colors is predictable. 

Question: Why do stars twinkle?

Answer: Light from stars bounces through various layers while traveling through the atmosphere. The bouncing bends the light before anyone can see it. Because of the constant movement of hot and cold layers of air, the bending varies. And it causes the stars to twinkle. 

Wrapping Up 

To conclude, we have successfully reached the end of the article – what color is Polaris? Now you know the color of Polaris goes from yellow to white now and then. 

We hope the discussion has been helpful to you. Thus you can understand the world of stargazing.

Till we meet again; goodbye, my friend!

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