CIRCUMPOLAR CONSTELLATIONS
What does circumpolar mean?
Circumpolar means to circle around the pole. Circumpolar stars or constellations daily trace circles around the north celestial pole, without setting or dipping below the horizon. They move in a counterclockwise direction. On any given night, the constellation is visible during a portion of the circle; the rest is traced out when the constellation is hidden in the daylight sky.
Circumpolar Constellations
Circumpolar constellations are constellations that never set below the horizon when seen from a particular location on Earth.
They can be seen in the night sky throughout the year, while other constellations are seasonal, visible only at certain times of year.
The term circumpolar refers to constellations and stars that are circling the north and south celestial poles without ever dipping below the horizon. All circumpolar constellations are found near the celestial poles and, due to their proximity to the poles, they never disappear from view.
Because of the rotation of the Earth and its orbit around the Sun, we divide the stars and constellations into two groups. Some stars and constellations never rise nor set, and they are called circumpolar. All the rest are divided into seasonal stars and constellations. Which stars and constellations will be circumpolar and which seasonal depends on your latitude. In the northern hemisphere, we will always be able to see stars and constellations in the the northern circumpolar sky, while in the southern hemisphere, we will always be able to see stars and constellations in the southern circumpolar sky.
The five northern constellations visible from most locations north of the equator throughout the year are Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Draco, Ursa Major, and Ursa Minor.
The three southern circumpolar constellations visible from most locations in the southern hemisphere are Carina, Centaurus, and Crux.
AestheticxScience
2018
references:
http://kvmagruder.net/bcp/diurnal/circumpolar.htm
https://www.windows2universe.org/the_universe/Constellations/circumpolar.html
http://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-map/circumpolar-constellations/