But recent and historical research reveals that the ever-constant star is actually changing. After dimming for the last few decades, the North Star is beginning to shine brightly again. And over the last two centuries, the brightening has become rather dramatic.

It is perhaps the most easily recognizable constellation in the night sky, and looks like a large spoon or perhaps a wheel barrow. It is composed of seven bright stars – three in the handle and four in the head of the spoon. If you can find it in the picture above, great. If not, look at the next photo.

Polaris

Astronomers have discovered that Polaris, the north star, is getting brighter. They say the star has suddenly reversed two decades of dimming. It is expanding at more than 100 times the rate they expected – and nobody is sure why.

Polaris is in the stage of being a red giant. The roman numeral for Polaris is II which means its a giant with a low mass.In this stage hydrogen is being made into helium and helium is also combining to form carbon which means it is slowly starting to burn denser elements.

Gamma Cephei

Vega