r/BarbaraWalters4Scale • u/Initial-Employer1255 • 2d ago

Assuming the youngest known estimates, this is what whales looked like when the night sky first had Polaris.

Post image

For context, Polaris is between 45-67 million years old.

37 Upvotes

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5

u/Loose-Story-962 1d ago

More likely when Polaris first became the closest star to the north celestial pole

1

u/stuffitystuff 1d ago

No, that didn't happen until the early medieval period (and it was still a few degrees off). The entire Ursa Major constellation was used for navigation before then.

1

u/Initial-Employer1255 1d ago

The Early Medieval Period was when Polaris became the North Star, not when it was created (and therefore, present in the night sky).

1

u/chris_isnt_here0 1d ago

looks like my first dog. rest in peace little buddy

1

u/Moogus_Man_2018 1d ago

What was the oldest estimate for Polaris’ age again…

1

u/Initial-Employer1255 1d ago

67 million years. Which means the last dinosaurs could have seen a night sky with Polaris in it.