The
stars do not ‘wander’. The apparent change in their position in the night sky
is due to the fact that the Earth, and we along with it, are in a constant
state of rotation. As such, our rotational movement happens below that of the
stars. If one looks at the night sky in the northern hemisphere, only one star
does not appear to move. Therefore it is also known as fixed star.
Incidentally, it is positioned exactly above the North Pole and hence is also
called the ‘pole star’. It is a good aid in determining directions in the dark,
being forever present in the north. Earlier, it helped sailors to find their
way in the seas.
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