The Pole-Star, or Polaris, is the star α in the constellation of _Ursa Minor_, and is the nearest large star to the north pole of the celestial equator. We say the “nearest,” because it does not actually mark the position of the pole, but is about 1° 30’ from it. Owing, however, to the motion of the pole of the celestial equator round that of the ecliptic, it will, in about 2000 A.D., approach within 28’ of the north pole; but after reaching this point of approximation it will begin to recede. At the time of Hipparchus it was 12° distant from it (that is, in 156 B.C.); in 1785, 2° 2’. You may easily find its place in the “stellar firmament,” for a line drawn between the stars α and β (hence called the “Pointers”) of the constellation _Ursa Major_, or the Great Bear, and produced in a northerly direction for about four and a half times its own length, will almost touch the Pole-Star. Two thousand years this post of honour, so to speak, was occupied by the star β of _Ursa Major_; while, in about twelve thousand years, it will be occupied by the star Vega in _Lyra_, which will be within 5° of the north pole. The constellation of _Ursa Major_ is always above the horizon of Europe, and hence it has been an object of curiosity to its inhabitants from the remotest antiquity. Our readers may easily recognize it by three stars which form a triangle in its tail, while four more form a quadrangle in the body of the imaginary bear. In the triangle, the first star at the tip of the tail is Benetnasch of the second magnitude; the second, Mizar; and the third, Alioth. In the quadrangle, the first star at the root of the tail is named Megrez; the second below it, Phad; the third, in a horizontal direction, Merak; and the fourth, above the latter, Dubhe, of the first magnitude. [Illustration: URSA MAJOR AND URSA MINOR.] In _Ursa Minor_ the only conspicuous star is Polaris, of which we have recently spoken. We subjoin a list of the northern constellations, including the names of those who formed them, the number of their visible stars, and the names of the most important and conspicuous. NORTHERN CONSTELLATIONS.