Extraterrestrial Skies - Sun

Sun

The closest thing the Sun has to a North polar star is HD 176668, a faint (magnitude 6.50) star in the constellation Draco. It is about 2.3 degrees off the Sun's polar axis. A better choice for putative Sun dwellers, assuming they could see the sky, would be δ Draconis, which is much brighter (magnitude 3.07; it is the fourth brightest star in that constellation) although 4.3 degrees off. The Sun's South polar star turns out to be 34 Carinae, also a faint (magnitude 6.03) star, 2.2 degrees off, with the bright star α Pictoris (magnitude 3.24), 4.1 degrees away, as competing choice.

Read more about this topic:  Extraterrestrial Skies

Famous quotes containing the word sun:

    The sun of Rome is set. Our day is gone;
    Clouds, dews, and dangers come; our deeds are done.
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

    The sun set; but set not his hope:
    Stars rose; his faith was earlier up:
    Fixed on the enormous galaxy,
    Deeper and older seemed his eye:
    And matched his sufferance sublime
    The taciturnity of time.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

    The Sun shone whole at intervals--/Then Half--then utter hid--/As if Himself were optional/And had Estates of Cloud/Sufficient to enfold Him/Eternally from view--
    Emily Dickinson (1831–1886)