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The North Star: It's Not the Brightest!

Back to 2008 Press Releases

News from Farmers' Almanac ~ the Original Sustainable Living Guide

For Immediate Release – August 17th, 2008

Media Contact:                         
Cynthia Greenwood
GreenMark Public Relations                   
847-404-8404
cgreenwood@greenmarkpr.com
                   

SAVANNAH, Ga. (Aug. 14, 2008) - The North Star is often thought to be the brightest in the night sky. Although it is relatively bright, the experts at Farmers' Almanac say it actually ranks No. 48.
   
For centuries, the North Star has been used by explorers to determine latitude and chart navigational maps. Several cultures have created stories to explain why it seemingly never moves. Although the earth's axis points to the North Star, the gravitational pull of the sun and moon causes its direction to shift slowly over time. So the North Star changes as well.
 
Because this happens extremely slowly, a single star typically holds the title of "North Star" for many years. Currently, the earth's axis points to Polaris, making it today's North Star.

For a video on how to locate the North Star, visit www.FarmersAlmanac.com. More fun astronomy facts and features can be found in the 2009 Farmers' Almanac, on sale Aug. 26. To pre-order the Almanac and get tips on sustainable living from the experts, visit www.FarmersAlmanac.com.

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Editors, please note: High-res images are available by contacting Cynthia Greenwood, cgreenwood@greenmarkpr.com or 847-404-8404.

About the Farmers' Almanac:
The Farmers' Almanac, which features an orange and green cover, has been published every year since 1818. Available at grocery and bookstores nationwide, it contains useful and interesting articles, as well as long-range weather predictions, gardening advice, recipes and more. Editors Peter Geiger and Sandi Duncan are available for lively and informative interviews, either by phone or in person. Both love to talk about the weather, share useful Almanac trivia and advice, and offer tips on how to "get back to the simple life." Visit on the Web at www.FarmersAlmanac.com.