Judith Rutledge, age 7, of Oramocto, N.B., Canada, for her question;

Haw far away is Polaris?

The guiding polestar is about 50 light Years from the solar system. This means that the light you see tonight Set out from Polaris 50 Years ago. This immense distance is equal to about 300 million million miles. In figures, this is 300 followed by 12 Zeros.

Polaris is a binary star, two stars seen as one. It is almost, but not quite, at the North Celestial Pole. Its distance from the true Pole 7.5 now one degree which is twice the width of the full moon. In 100 years, Polaris will be only half a degree from the true north. But 2000 Years in the future it will be far away, and the role of the North Pole Star will  be played by another star.