<p>There is a "South Star" called Sigma Octanis located in the constellation Octans, but it is so dim that virtually nobody calls it the south star. </p>

<p>Just another side note: Polaris doesn't always point North. The reason is that our Earth has a precession effect which make the North pole circulate around the sky. This picture illustrates my point.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/VRemk.png" alt="Picture showing the precession effect and the changing of the pole star."></p>

<p>EDIT: Just to clarify, the picture is showing the circulation of the south celestial pole around the south ecliptic pole.</p>

<p>EDIT2 : References: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pole_star#mediaviewer/File:Precession_S.gif" rel="noreferrer">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pole_star#mediaviewer/File:Precession_S.gif</a>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pole_star" rel="noreferrer">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pole_star</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-07T02:04:05.577Z
Please attribute sources of external information you include in your answers. This is where the image is taken from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Precession_S.png Thanks!
TildalWave
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-06T15:10:58.527Z
2014-09-07T02:07:35.200Z
2014-09-07T02:07:35.200Z
krismath
<p>The star Polaris is commonly known as the Northern Star because it always points North. This being said is there a South star that always points south?</p>

<star-gazing>
Is there a 'South Star'?
Nirvik Baruah
# Is there a 'South Star'?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-09-06)

The star Polaris is commonly known as the Northern Star because it always points North. This being said is there a South star that always points south?

**Tags:** star-gazing


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-09-06. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

There is a "South Star" called Sigma Octanis located in the constellation Octans, but it is so dim that virtually nobody calls it the south star.

Just another side note: Polaris doesn't always point North. The reason is that our Earth has a precession effect which make the North pole circulate around the sky. This picture illustrates my point.

![Picture showing the precession effect and the changing of the pole star.](https://i.sstatic.net/VRemk.png)

EDIT: Just to clarify, the picture is showing the circulation of the south celestial pole around the south ecliptic pole.

EDIT2 : References: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pole_star#mediaviewer/File:Precession_S.gif>
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pole_star>

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Please attribute sources of external information you include in your answers. This is where the image is taken from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Precession_S.png Thanks!  

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