Question

Pole star is located in Ursa Major. This statement is
A) True
B) False

Answer 1

Hint: Earth has two pole stars; North Pole Star and the South Pole Star. But when it is not specified, the term ‘pole star’ always refers to the North Pole star. Ursa Major is a constellation in the northern sky also known as the ‘Great Bear’. It was listed by Ptolemy in the 2nd Century and is the third-largest constellation that we know.

Complete answer:
Earth as two pole stars :
- North Pole Star is also called Polaris and is located in the constellation of Ursa Minor.
- South Pole Star is also called Polaris Australis and it is a solitary star (not the main star) in a faint constellation.

Out of the two-pole stars of the earth, the North Pole star is the most significant and the brightest star in the night sky. It helps in terrestrial as well as celestial navigation and is very helpful for various studies about space. Hence, even when it is not specified, the term ‘pole star’ always refers to the North Pole star.

As we know, it is a part of the Ursa Minor which is also known as the ‘Little Bear’. The ‘little bear’ is also known as the ‘Little Dipper’ in North America because of its undeniable resemblance to an actual dipper.

It is made up of seven stars;
- Alpha Ursae Minoris – Polaris
- Beta Ursae Minoris – Kochab
- Delta Ursae Minoris – Yildun
- Gamma Ursae Minoris – Pherkad
- Zeta Ursae Minoris – Ahfa al Farkadain
- Eta Ursae Minoris – Anwar al Farkadain
- Epsilon Ursae Minoris

Thus, the correct answer is Option (B) False because Pole star is located in Ursa Minor.

Note: Polaris is the brightest star in the sky because it is not just a single star, rather it is a triple star system. The three stars in this system are; a yellow supergiant star and two smaller companion stars.
The Polaris Australis, the current South Star, is a giant star and can be located in the constellation Octans. But the constellation and the star are so faint that they are not practically useful for navigation.