North Star's Distance To Earth Shorter Than Previously Thought, Polaris Study Shows

As Seen on Huffington Post Science By: Tariq Malik
Published: 11/30/2012 02:51 PM EST on SPACE.com

The famed North Star has been a beacon in the night sky throughout human history, but a new study reveals the star is actually closer to our solar system than previously thought.

Scientists studying the North Star Polaris found that it is about 323 light-years from the sun and Earth, substantially closer than a previous estimate of 434 light-years by a European satellite in the late 1990s. The new distance measurement may help astronomers in the pursuit of several cosmic mysteries, such as the hunt for elusive dark energy, researchers said.

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