Answer each of the following questions for our local sky

Question

A. Where is the north celestial pole in our sky?
B. Is Polaris a circumpolar star in our sky? Explain.
C. Describe the meridian in our sky.
D. Describe the celestial equator in our sky.

Answer 1

A. Answers will vary with latitude; here is a sample for 40°N: The north celestial pole appears at an altitude of 40°, in the direction due north.
B. Yes, for any location in the Northern Hemisphere; no, for any location in the Southern Hemisphere. Polaris is circumpolar because it never rises or sets in our sky. It makes a daily circle, less than 1° in radius, around the north celestial pole.
C. The meridian is a half-circle that stretches from the due south point on the horizon, through the zenith, to the due north point on the horizon.
D. Answers will vary with latitude; here is a sample answer for 40°N: The celestial equator is a half-circle that stretches from the due east point on the horizon, through an altitude of 50° due south, to the due west point on the horizon.