Is there a South Star, like the North Star?
by 
Marguerite
ANSWERS: 3
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There is no "South Star". It's just a coincidence that there happens to be a bright star (Polaris) close to the Celestial North Pole. The Southern Hemisphere isn't so lucky. The only star that comes close is Sigma Octans, which is 1 degree away from the South Celestial Pole. But it's only 6th magnitude--too dim to see at all except under optimal conditions. Of course, because the stars move in the sky, the fact that we have a North Star and not a South Star is a transient phenomenon.
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Nope...a tiny star is about 3 feet away from South Star.
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Since the southern sky lacks an easily visible pole star, Alpha and Gamma (known as Acrux and Gacrux respectively) are commonly used to mark south. Following the line defined by the two stars for approximately 4.5 times the distance between them leads to a point close to the Southern Celestial Pole.
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