The North Celestial Pole is a term often used in astronomy to describe the celestial point located directly above the Earth's North Pole. Its spelling, based on the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), is /nɔːθ səˈlɛstiəl poʊl/. The first syllable is pronounced with an "aw" sound, while the "th" in "north" is pronounced as a voiceless dental fricative. The stress is on the second syllable of "celestial," which ends with a schwa sound, and the final syllable of "pole" is pronounced with an "oh" sound.
The north celestial pole is a critical term in astronomy and refers to the point in the sky that appears to be directly above the Earth's geographical North Pole. It is the point around which all stars in the northern hemisphere appear to rotate. This celestial pole is considered the center of the northern celestial hemisphere.
Due to the Earth's axial tilt, the North Pole is not directly aligned with the North Star. Instead, the North Celestial Pole is approximately aligned with Polaris, also referred to as the North Star. Polaris, being the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor, enables observers in the Northern Hemisphere to locate the celestial pole effortlessly.
From any location in the northern hemisphere, the North Celestial Pole will always remain in the same position, while the stars seem to orbit around it. The altitude of the pole depends on an observer's geographic latitude. For example, an observer situated at the North Pole itself would see the pole directly overhead at an altitude of 90 degrees. Conversely, an individual located on the equator would see the pole on the horizon at an altitude of 0 degrees.
The North Celestial Pole serves as a fundamental reference point for astronomers, navigators, and stargazers alike, facilitating the determination of an observer's position on Earth, navigation at sea, and celestial observations.