During post-processing (PS ADOBE), I extracted one shot per hour to create a nocturnal star trails effect. Additionally, I cropped segments of the daytime sky every hour, highlighting the gradual color transition throughout the day. For the twilight periods, I extracted slices every 10 minutes, showcasing the transition from day to night and emphasizing the persistence of the North Star compared to other stars during this time.

To create the image portraying a close-up of the Celestial North Pole over 24 hours, I carefully planned every detail. The chosen night was on December 13/14, 2023, with no Moon and close to the winter solstice. The decision was also influenced by weather forecasts, ensuring a cloud-free sky throughout the entire shooting duration.

To capture the Celestial North Pole along with the North Star, I used a 600mm telephoto lens. Shooting every 5 minutes for 24 hours, I kept the camera stationary, ensuring continuity in the process. Priority AV and fixing the white balance were set to achieve a coherent transition of light and color.

During post-processing, I extracted one shot per hour to create a nocturnal star trails effect. Additionally, I cropped segments of the daytime sky every hour, highlighting the gradual color transition throughout the day. For the twilight periods, I extracted slices every 10 minutes, showcasing the transition from day to night and emphasizing the persistence of the North Star compared to other stars during this time.

The image serves an educational purpose, emphasizing the apparent rotation of the North Star relative to the Celestial North Pole. The North Star is not the closest star to the North, but the brightest, becoming visible during nautical twilight. Historically, the persistence of the North Star near the Celestial North Pole has been utilized by navigators for nighttime orientation during travels.

Furthermore, the image provides insights for reflection: during the Winter Solstice, the Sun rises and sets at the farthest point from the Celestial North Pole. At noon, despite the appearance of a clearer sky, the Sun is at its farthest point north in its daily path, resulting in dark blue skies toward the Celestial North Pole. The variation in diurnal and nocturnal arcs, based on Earth's latitudes, adds further elements for consideration. This could aid in understanding Earth's rotation, axial tilt, and other related celestial phenomena.