Sigma Octantis

Sigma Octantis (σ Oct / σ Octantis) is a magnitude 5.5 star in the constellation Octans, located at roughly RA 21h 09m, decl. −88° 57'.

Related Topics:
Magnitude - Octans - RA - Decl.

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Its position near the southern celestial pole makes it the southern hemisphere's pole star and counterpart to Polaris, the current North Star. To an observer in the southern hemisphrere, Sigma Octantis appears almost motionless and all the other stars in the Southern sky appear to rotate around it.

Related Topics:
Southern hemisphere - Pole star - Polaris - North Star

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Sigma Octantis is sometimes called Polaris Australis, or South Star. However, it is a faint star—at magnitude 5.5 it is barely visible to the naked eye—which makes it a rather poor pole star, especially by comparison with the much brighter and easily visible Polaris.

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