Factoid for Today

[Gregory Matthews]

Polaris, also called the North Star sits in the heavens almost directly over the axis of the rotation of the Earth.  Therefore, is almost fixed in position in the sky and serves as a reference point for celestial navigation.  

My question for today is:  How many stars actually comprise what we see as Polaris?

NOTE:  The following answers are all what were believed, at one time to be the correct answer to the question.  Which one is correct?

A.  one star

B. two stars

C. three stars

D. four stars

E. five stars.

[Gregory Matthews]

Today, it is believed that Polaris is comprised of three stars that rotate around a common center of mass and are seen by us here on Earth as one star.

NOTE:  If you were to go outside on a clear night and look up into the sky,  probably 50 % of the stars that you saw were actually more than one star that was rotating around a common center of mass and simply looked to be one star.