North Star Closer to Earth Than Thought

Nat Geo ^ | December 4, 2012 | Andrew Fazekas

[BenLurkin]

In fact, the North Star—also called Polaris—is 30 percent closer to our solar system than previously thought, at about 323 light-years away, according to an international team who studied the star's light output.

Using Russia's 6-Meter Telescope, the researchers were able to calculate the North Star's distance from our solar system by analyzing its spectrum of light and obtaining data on its temperature and changes in intrinsic brightness over time.

That significantly revises the previously accepted value of 434 light-years, which was obtained by the European star-mapping satellite Hipparcos in the 1990s.

Known to fade and brighten over a four-day period, this celestial beacon of true north is considered the closest and brightest member of a class of stars called Cepheids that change in brightness over time.

The new results also located nearly a half dozen stars that appear to be surrounding the North Star and show signs that they have all once belonged to the same star cluster, which has now dispersed.

"This system is known to contain two other stars in addition to the Cepheid stars, but there may be yet another unseen object orbiting Polaris ... a massive orbiting planet for example," he added.

[adorno]

434 downsized to 323?

Hmmm....

This could all be due to deflation, where even our money ain’t worth what it used to be some 10 years ago.

On the positive side, a savings of 30% would mean that, the amount of fuel (and cost) to get to Polaris, would be a lot less.

Also, what else could be the scientists be wrong about? Is it possible that, even the universe is 30% smaller than the current estimates?

[BenLurkin]

All I know is that it's best to never take any scientific pronouncements too seriously.

[adorno]

All I know is that it's best to never take any scientific pronouncements too seriously.

Except for global warming pronouncements; otherwise, you risk the chance of being called a "denier", and you for certain don't want to go through life being scarred that way.

[Red Badger]

No wonder the polar ice cap is melting.......

[Flick Lives]

According to my calculations it is 347 light years away.

347 light years, 42 miles, 9 feet, and 3/4 inches, to be precise. I double checked it.

[BwanaNdege]

Haven't seen one of those in awhile!

[BenLurkin]

http://www.johnspeedie.com/healy/heyho.wav

[Verginius Rufus]

Of course the 323 figure is in Roman years. If they were using the Islamic calendar (expect NASA to adopt that any day now to show respect for Muslim contributions to science), it would be about 3% more so something like 333 light-years (since their year is 11 days shorter than the solar year).

Of course if we were to use Martian years it would be a lot less since the Martian year is 1.88 of our years (687 days). Mars is tilted 25 degrees but I don't know which star would be the North Star on Mars--chances are it is not Polaris. So the Martians probably could care less how far away Polaris is. Anyway they must be hiding way under the surface since our spaceships have yet to find them.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks BenLurkin.

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