The North Star, known as Polaris, is a notable part of the constellation Ursa Minor. It’s less than 1° away from the north celestial pole, which makes it appear to sit motionless, while all other stars seem to rotate around it. This characteristic, amongst others, has made it a reliable aid for navigation since antiquity.
Understanding the North Star
Polaris is a dramatically bright star with a luminosity around 2,500 times more intense than that of our sun. Located approximately 323 light-years away from earth in the Ursa Minor constellation, this star’s position aligns nearly perfectly with Earth’s rotational axis. This unique alignment causes the North Star to appear stationary in the northern sky, while other stars circle around it.
The Navigational Role of Polaris
Due to its consistent position, Polaris has been an essential tool for navigators since late antiquity. The elevation of the star above the horizon gives the approximate latitude of the observer, making it useful for locating one’s position on the globe. However, as one travels south past the equator, Polaris disappears over the horizon and ceases to be a navigational guide.
The Historical Significance of Polaris
Historically, the Romans were the first to chart Polaris. Renowned mathematician and astronomer, Ptolemy, recorded its position between 165 – 85 BC. However, according to NASA, the title “North Star” is fluid; as Earth’s rotational axis wobbles, the celestial pole wanders, causing different stars to become the “North Star.” About 14,000 years ago, Vega was the North Star, and projections suggest it will regain this title in approximately 12,000 years.
Naval LCA Lands on INS Vikrant
In a significant stride towards India’s naval self-reliance plans, the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) successfully completed its inaugural landing on the INS Vikrant. This event was followed by the successful landing and take-off of a twin-engine MiG-29K fighter jet of Russian origin.
Operationalising INS Vikrant
As India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, the commission of the INS Vikrant in September 2022 marked an important milestone. Currently, efforts are being made to ensure its complete operationalisation. In January 2020, India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully demonstrated the Naval LCA’s landing capabilities on the INS Vikramaditya. Consequently, the DRDO is developing a Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter for the INS Vikrant.
Southern India’s First Industrial Corridor Project
The Indian Prime Minister recently laid the foundation stone at Tumakuru, marking the initiation of southern India’s first Industrial Corridor Project. The project, part of the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor, will spread across 8500 acres of land. The initiative follows the principles of the PM-GatiShakti scheme, aimed at ensuring last mile multimodal connectivity to various economic zones.
Implementing the Industrial Township at Vasanthanarasapura
The Indian Government, along with the Government of Karnataka and the Implementation Trust, plan to construct the industrial township at Vasanthanarasapura in three phases. This project forms a crucial part of the National Industrial Corridor Development (NICD) Programme, which aims to establish 32 greenfield industrial smart cities along 11 industrial corridors.
Launch of Yuva Sangam Portal
The “Yuva Sangam” registration portal was recently inaugurated at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), in New Delhi. Yuva Sangam aims to foster close-knit bonds between northeastern youths and the rest of India, under the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. As part of this initiative, over 20,000 youths will partake in a cross-cultural learning journey across the Indian subcontinent.
Last Modified: February 20, 2024