When we look at the starry night sky we can appreciate the constellations. There are ways in which we can identify certain stars that serve as an orientation and guide to mark a fixed course and not get lost. In the past, some stars and constellations were used to mark sea routes. In this case we are going to talk about the Pole Star. It is located near the axis of rotation of the Earth and belongs to the constellation Ursa Minor.
Do you want to know the importance of the Pole Star and how to identify it in the sky? Read on to learn about it.
Importance of the Polar Star for the Mayans
The North Star was considered a kind of deity in Mayan mythology. This civilization paid tribute and veneration to him for his usefulness. There were many merchants and merchants who used this star as a guide to be able to see their objective and not get lost. It can be perfectly observed in Yucatan and, for this reason, they felt cared for and oriented in their long journeys.
It also has a symbolic and spiritual meaning for the Mayans, since it was like a power before the path that people should follow in life. It not only served as a guide for business journeys, but also served to show the way forward in life.
Many of the Mayans called this star God of the night or God of winter. Despite what you may think, the Mayans had extensive knowledge about astronomy and not only could they guide themselves through certain stars, but they also believed and studied the stars above the sky. They had identified numerous constellations that we can observe today. This is how they managed to maintain a perfect spiritual balance with the cosmos.
Its spiritual symbolism represented the search for one's own existence. One of the uses of the Pole Star was that in it you could find all the answers to life's questions. One of the most common doubts at that time was what role to play in the underworld. For the Mayans, the Pole Star had the answer.
The constellation Ursa Minor and the Pole Star
As we have mentioned before, the Pole Star is located within the constellation Ursa Minor. This is a constellation that can be clearly seen in our sky throughout the year. We can only see it those people who live in the northern hemisphere. Ursa Minor is made up of 7 stars that include Polaris. It can be easily identified as a yellow giant characterized by being quite luminous and exceeding the Sun in size. Although this may not seem true, it is a larger star than the Sun. However, it is much farther away than it and, therefore, we cannot see it the same size or let it illuminate us in that way.
Before the invention of radars and geographic location systems, as well as GPS, the North Star was used as a guide in navigation. This could be because it is oriented towards the geographical celestial pole.
It is a star that, although the rest of the stars seem to move over the sky, it does not. It is easy to identify because it is completely fixed. It is close to the constellation Ursa Major. Both constellations are similar because they are made up of 7 stars and are shaped like a car.
It is known as the constellation Ursa Minor because the stars that compose it shine less than those of Ursa Major. This is the reason why you should know a little more about astronomy and how to identify the constellations to be able to observe it from the sky. If the sky is completely clear and free of light pollution, it is quite easy to see it in the sky.
Relationship with the constellation Ursa Major
It differs from the rest of the stars since it is the one that remains static in the sky. The rest of the stars can be observed to rotate around the axis of rotation of the Earth. The journey made by the stars lasts 24 hours just like the planets and the Sun do. Therefore, if we want to know where the Pole Star is at a certain moment, we must observe the constellation Ursa Major.
This is done because it is a relatively easy constellation to see and the Pole Star is close to it. If we want to see it, we just have to draw an imaginary line that takes as a reference point two of the stars in the constellation Ursa Major called Merak and Dhube. These two stars are quite easy to identify in the sky. Once they are spotted, we have to draw another imaginary line at a distance of 5 times that between these two to find the Pole Star.
Utility and history
The Pole Star too has been known as the North Star due to its location available only in the Northern Hemisphere. Another name by which it is known is Polaris. It is due to its proximity to the North Pole.
Throughout history, this star has been used as a reference point for thousands of sailors who made crossings along the sea. Keep in mind that only those who sailed through the Northern Hemisphere could see it. Thanks to this star, who has served as a guide for so many people, they could reach the positions of the cities well.
Today it is still serving as a method of measuring latitude and azimuth. The azimuth is the angle that is established between the meridian and that passes through a specific point on our planet. Thanks to the North Star we can orient ourselves to the north direction, although it will depend entirely on the location of the observer. A fairly reliable measurement is the one taken taking into account the height where the Pole Star is on the horizon.
As you can see, this star has a lot of history and significance, and even today it is quite popular with astronomers and hobbyists.