Star Trails Gallery

South Celestial Pole Star Trails

South Celestial Pole

The two celestial poles are the imaginary points where the Earth's spin axis intersects the celestial sphere. The sky appears to drift overhead from east to west, completing a full circuit around the sky in 24 (sidereal)hours. This phenomenon is due to the spinning of the Earth on its axis. The Earth's spin axis intersects the celestial sphere at two points. These points are the celestial poles. As the Earth spins, they remain fixed in the sky, and all other points seem to rotate around them.

Also see Constellations around South Celestial Pole

Lens 28mm
Exposure 40 minutes
Film Fuji Superia 800
Date 2000
Guiding None
Location Wairarapa, New Zealand