What is the actual composition of the star known as Polaris?
Answer
It is part of a multiple-star system
Although Polaris appears to the naked eye as a singular, fixed beacon, its actual stellar structure is more complex. It is not a solitary star but rather constitutes a multiple-star system. While this fact contributes to minute movements within the system itself, referred to as proper motion, this inherent stellar motion is negligible when compared to the rotational drift caused by the Earth's spin which dictates its apparent position relative to the NCP. The perception of utter stillness is a macroscopic observation dependent on the Earth's rotational mechanics rather than the intrinsic stability of the star itself.
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