Polaris Wasn’t Always the North Star: How Earth’s Wobble Shifts the Celestial Pole

Earth’s 26,000-year axial precession gradually shifts the celestial pole, replacing Polaris with new North Stars over millennia. Stars like Thuban, Kochab, Errai, and Vega have taken turns guiding humanity, and more will follow. According to NASA, gravitational forces cause this cosmic wobble, reminding us that even the seemingly constant night sky is ever-changing.