Polaris Australis

Sig

Variable star

Its story

Polaris Australis is the southern hemisphere's pole star, the brightest star closest to the southern celestial pole, lying within the obscure minor constellation of Octans. Unlike its famous northern counterpart, it is unassuming and faint: a yellow variable of magnitude near the limit of the naked eye on a clear night. At 281 light-years, it served as a silent reference for southern navigators long before any precise telescope ever confirmed its exact position above the pole.

Constellation: Octans
Apparent magnitude: 5.45
Distance: 281.0 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 317.192° · Dec -88.956°
Catalogue: HIP 104382 · HD 177482

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