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The North Star: It’s Not the Brightest!
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.
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.
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If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.