Question

Compare and contrast an observer’s view of Polaris in Popayán, Colombia with an observer in New York.

a) In Popayán, Polaris is visible in the night sky, while in New York, it is not.
b) Polaris appears at different altitudes above the horizon for observers in the two locations.
c) Polaris is brighter when observed from Popayán compared to New York.
d) Polaris has the same position in the night sky for both observers.

Answer 1

In Popayán, Polaris is visible in the night sky, while in New York, it is not. Polaris appears at different altitudes above the horizon for observers in the two locations. Polaris is brighter when observed from Popayán compared to New York.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Popayán, Colombia, an observer can see Polaris, also known as the North Star, in the night sky, while in New York, it is not visible. This is because Polaris is located near the Earth's rotation axis, and its visibility depends on the latitude of the observer. In Popayán, which is close to the equator, Polaris is closer to the horizon compared to its position in New York, where it appears higher above the northern horizon. Additionally, the brightness of Polaris may appear different in the two locations due to atmospheric conditions and light pollution.