Polaris

HR 424 · HIP 11767 · α UMi

👁️ Naked-eye

📋 A written introduction is coming — for now this page shows official values only.

Star

Apparent magnitude: 2.02 mag
Parallax: 7.54 mas → about 432.6 light-years away
Spectral type: F7:Ib-IIv SB
Right ascension: 37.9546°
Declination: 89.2641°
Designation: HR 424
Bayer designation: α UMi
HIP number: 11767
IAU name adopted: 2016-06-30
Name language: Latin
Name origin (IAU): A Latin adjective meaning "of the pole" (related to the noun polus, "the pole"). Applied as a star name to α UMi in Early Modern times, it reflects the star's temporary proximity to the north celestial pole.

Constellation

Light from this object takes about 433 years to reach Earth — the light you see tonight left around AD 1593 (official distance ÷ speed of light).
At magnitude 2 it is bright enough for the naked eye (limit about 6) — look from somewhere dark.
Declination 89.3° — from Seoul (37.6° N) it never sets and circles the northern sky all night.

Worked out from this object's official values.