Talk:Celestial pole

celestial pole + ID
I read this http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051014/MTCN0405/310140013/1314 and it says that the celestial poles are part of our intelligent designer communicating to us. I came to this article to try and find out what he was talking about, but I'm still unclear.

I believe a timelapse photo of the stars showing South Celestial pole would be great. A photo similar to one found here! Thanks. https://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/1757 — Preceding unsigned comment added by Nspacemonkey (talk • contribs) 00:59, 10 February 2011 (UTC)


 * A search for commercially-copiable timelapse images of stars returns several results, including several from "Root Patwong"'s gallery. Ojw (talk) 22:28, 17 September 2011 (UTC)


 * Circumpolar_AZ81.jpg article? Ojw (talk) 22:31, 17 September 2011 (UTC)]]

I agree that a time lapse video or animated photo would be very helpful on this page to illustrate the existence of the South Celestial Pole. There is currently (September 2017) a resurgence of 'Flat Earth' belief (no, I'm not joking) which denies the existence of the South Celestial Pole. I came to this page to see if I could find some information about _when_ the South Celestial Pole was first observed (i.e. some info about the history of its discovery and observation). Such history info would be useful as well, but I must concur that the visual of a true and accurate photographic video or time lapse animation would be invaluable for confirming to many people that the South Celestial Pole does indeed exist as claimed in this article. I know that such an animation would be relatively easy to produce, but I live in the Northern Hemisphere and do not have the means to travel to the south to generate it myself. Surely some Southern Hemispherian Wikipedians would be willing to donate some time to generate such an open license animation? Pretty please?! :-) 24.57.106.253 (talk) 14:35, 24 September 2017 (UTC)

Equilateral Triangles
Although two points do define the size of an equilateral triangle, on which side of the line joining the two points should the third point be placed? Yes, I know, the side that has the south celestial pole. But, which side is that? NickyMcLean 03:36, 23 September 2006 (UTC)
 * Looking at Starry Night, it seems that if you can also identify Alpha Centauri, the third brightest 'star' (actually a cluster) in the sky and the closest star to Earth, then it would make (roughly) an isoceles triangle, in the same general direction as the southern cross, with the same 2 baseline stars. The southern celestial pole (SCP) is the imaginary equilateral point inside the long isoceles. Other option is to have a rough guess on the location of the SCP (or south) and this baseline will confirm and improve it. Also, if you live in that general area, just remember from night to night (it will change very slowly between seasons) where the SCP is relative to the baseline (e.g. "to the upper right"). This is all WP:OR but I am sure someone can find it somewhere and confirm it, or add other ways (some are mentioned in southern cross). Crum375 12:26, 23 September 2006 (UTC)
 * Here is another way. Assume you can actually identify each of the 2 baseline stars, Canopus and Achernar, using their neighbors or some other means. In that case, start from Canopus, go (in your imagination) to Achernar, and then hang a 60 degree right turn towards the third imaginary point on the equilateral triangle, which will be the SCP. Of course if you can see the southern cross, it will also point at the SCP, so that will another confirmation. This is all WP:OR per Starry Night. Crum375 02:01, 25 September 2006 (UTC)

Proposed merge
There seems a lot of overlap between Celestial pole, Pole Star, North Star and South Star. Much of the same material is repeated several times. Unless anyone can see a good reason not to, I propose merging it all to Celestial pole. Matt 00:34, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

I agree the overlap is huge, but I don't think a merge to Celestial pole is the solution; I'd imagine most non-specialists would search for 'pole star', for example. Some trimming and interlinking between the articles would seem the best solution, or failing that a redirect to pole star. Chrislintott (talk) 11:39, 16 February 2008 (UTC)


 * I agree with Chrislintott, even tho' I'm usually a "mergist" :). The context of Celestial pole, Pole Star, North Star and South Star are overlapping, but the concepts might be too different for a merge. Trimming, interlinking and possibly redirection is the key, I think. On the other hand, a merge wouldn't disturb me particularly, but Celestial pole is a theoretical concept and the star(s) are physical objects. Tough choice here - maybe we could compare this with Geographical pole, North Pole and South Pole and see how those things have been handled there? --Dna-Dennis (talk) 16:19, 16 February 2008 (UTC)


 * On reflection, I believe that you are right that all articles should be preserved in some form. I will remove the merge proposals and makes some changes along the lines suggested. Please make any further modifications you feel are necessary. Matt 21:19, 17 February 2008 (UTC). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.133.54.28 (talk)

Typo in diagram
In the diagram Locating the south celestial pole there is a caption, 'Acctual South Pole'. I don't know how to correct this - perhaps someone else could. Dinoceras (talk) 18:53, 5 April 2010 (UTC)

History of Discovery and Observation
As I noted in an earlier talk section above, there is currently (September 2017 and earlier) a resurgence in belief in a flat Earth. No, I'm not joking. This movement appears to be a conjunction of Moon Landing Denialists and Biblical Literalists (and/or Young Earth Creationists, although most YECs are not Flat Earthers). Many/most Flat Earthers deny the existence of a South Celestial Pole. I came to this page to find out any information about _when_ and how the South Celestial Pole was discovered (and perhaps predicted) and its history of observation. Such a history of the SCP would be very helpful on this page, but I know nothing about it. Does anyone know of any sources for this information? 24.57.106.253 (talk) 14:42, 24 September 2017 (UTC)


 * As one resident in the southern hemisphere, I can see the south celestial pole on any clear night (though not this one in Lower Hutt, New Zealand) and this would have been equally observable by any European mariner making their first visits, such as Magellan, Tasman, and Cook. All would have had an interest in the stars for navigation, and there could well appear remarks in their journals or ship's logs concerning the non-appearance of a star marking its position as with Polaris for the northern Hemisphere. There might even be mention of the sun rising on the right and setting on the left, an absurdity to the Classical Greeks who regarded this as proof that the returned traveller's stories were delusions and not to be believed. NickyMcLean (talk) 10:18, 26 September 2017 (UTC)

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 * I found an updated link. --Lasunncty (talk) 17:27, 25 January 2018 (UTC)