<P> At the equator, it is possible to see both Polaris and the Southern Cross . The Celestial south pole is moving toward the Southern Cross, which has pointed to the south pole for the last 2000 years or so . As a consequence, the constellation is no longer visible from subtropical northern latitudes, as it was in the time of the ancient Greeks . </P> <P> Around 200 BC, the star Beta Hydri was the nearest bright star to the Celestial south pole . Around 2800 BC, Achernar was only 8 degrees from the south pole . </P> <P> In the next 7500 years, the south Celestial pole will pass close to the stars Gamma Chamaeleontis (4200 AD), I Carinae, Omega Carinae (5800 AD), Upsilon Carinae, Iota Carinae (Aspidiske, 8100 AD) and Delta Velorum (9200 AD). From the eightieth to the ninetieth centuries, the south Celestial pole will travel through the False Cross . Around 14,000 AD, when Vega is only 4 ° from the North Pole, Canopus will be only 8 ° from the South Pole and thus circumpolar on the latitude of Bali (8 ° S). </P> <P> Pole stars of other planets are defined analogously: they are stars (brighter than 6th magnitude, i.e., visible to the naked eye under ideal conditions) that most closely coincide with the projection of the planet's axis of rotation onto the Celestial sphere . Different planets have different pole stars because their axes are oriented differently . (See Poles of astronomical bodies .) </P>

When is the moon near the north star