But it is 1.4 times the mass, and it orbits the Polaris A every 42,000 years, at distance of about 2400 AU. He did so with a reflecting telescope that he built by hand, and we’ve subsequently learned that Polaris B is a main sequence star, much like our own sun. In 1780 William Herschel observed that there was a companion star, Polaris B.
The photo-sphere is roughly the same temperature as our own sun, but since it is the skin on a ball 50 times bigger, the surface area is almost 2500 times larger – and therefore it is 2500 times brighter than our sun. It has a mass four and a half times that of our own sun and its diameter is fifty times larger. Polaris A, a class F7 yellow super giant, is the biggest and brightest star in the system. To the naked eye, Polaris appears to be a single bright star actually it is a multi-star system, about 430 light years, more or less due north from the North Pole. Perhaps Vincent Van Gogh was inspired by such images when he painted The Starry Night. Without such a tracking system, a long exposure photograph of the night sky can make a striking impression that shows the majesty of the celestial dance. Polaris and Kochab are often used to align and calibrate telescope mounts to track the sky’s rotation, for long photographic exposures or extended observation of a particular object. However, in the modern era, Polaris will reach its closest approach to celestial north in the year 2100 CE, and will serve as the North Star for the remainder of the third millennium. In the more ancient world of the Egyptian dynasties, the pole star was the faint light of Thuban in the constellation Draco. The earth’s rotational axis precesses, and the celestial pole traces a circle through different constellations every 25,800 years. But in the time of the Roman empire, β Ursae Minoris (also known as Kochab), was actually closer to the celestial pole. Polaris has been used for centuries to navigate the northern hemisphere. Some cultures imagine the stars in the tail as hunters chasing the bear, and others have tales about how bear lost his tail. Yes, it is true that bears no longer have tails. But throughout the ancient world these constellations were recognized as bears, and Polaris is at the tip of the little one’s tail. Most Americans call it ‘the Little Dipper’ (and they also know Ursa Major as the ‘Big Dipper’). Every soldier, every traveler, and every scout worth their salt… they all know about the North Star. Every soul on the Underground Railroad knew that Polaris would guide them to liberty. Welcome to the home of Kutama College – Esse Quam Videri.It is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor (Umi), and it therefore earns the first letter in the Greek: α Ursae Minoris.Įvery sailor with a sextant knows how to find it – and how to determine their latitude and heading. Michael and Patrick House (Yellow) – named after one of the early Brothers to teach at the school Bro. Marceline Champagnat, Chichester House (Red) – named after the first Catholic Archbishop of Harare Aston Chichester, Michael House (Green) – named after one of the early Brothers to teach at the school Bro. Students are divided into four houses Champagnat House (Blue) – named after the founder of the Marist Brothers Fr. This is cultivated into our students, right from the beginning by encouraging healthy competition amongst peers in all activities. We offer our students a wide ranging academic curriculum supported by a variety of sporting and other extra-curricular activities to ensure that we nurture a wholesome student, capable of success in not just academics, but sports as well.Īs a school, we take pride in our history and the achievements of our current and former students by recognising their success in different ways that inspire others to strive to do the same if not better. Founded by the Jesuits (Catholic order of the Society of Jesus) and now run by the Marist Brothers, Kutama offers secondary education starting from Form One up to Advanced Level (Form Six). Francis Xavier’s College Kutama, also known as Kutama College is a boys-only school located in Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe.