Star lore
Pherkad
Direct answer
Pherkad is Gamma Ursae Minoris, a white star forming the fainter outer corner of the Little Dipper's bowl.
Pherkad is Kochab's partner among the Guardians of the Pole.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Related
- Ras Algethi, Kochab, Dubhe, Merak
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The story behind Pherkad
The two stars acquired the collective title Guardians of the Pole because they circle close to the north celestial pole.
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Why Pherkad matters
Pherkad’s pairing with Kochab strengthens recognition of Ursa Minor and preserves a historical polar orientation system.
How to read Pherkad
After finding Kochab, identify nearby Pherkad to establish the bowl side opposite the handle.
Pherkad in practice: an example
Watching Kochab and Pherkad change clock position around Polaris demonstrates diurnal rotation.
Where readings of Pherkad go wrong
Pherkad is mildly variable, but ordinary rapid flicker comes from Earth's atmosphere.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- IAU Division C Working Group on Star Names - Official IAU working group responsible for standardizing star names used in international astronomy.
- CDS SIMBAD Astronomical Database - Professional astronomical database for stellar identifiers, positions, classifications, and bibliography.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
Complete the pair guarding Polaris
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Common questions
What is Pherkad?
Pherkad is Gamma Ursae Minoris, a white star forming the fainter outer corner of the Little Dipper's bowl.
What do people get wrong about Pherkad?
Pherkad is mildly variable, but ordinary rapid flicker comes from Earth's atmosphere.
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