Apparent motion of Polaris: At its upper culmination (highest meridian transit), the Pole Star appears to move instantaneously in which direction?

Introduction / Context:
All stars appear to move due to Earth’s rotation, tracing circles around the celestial poles. Polaris, being near the north celestial pole, shows a very small circular motion, useful for instrument alignment checks.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Upper culmination is the instant Polaris crosses the observer’s local meridian at the highest altitude.
• Apparent stellar motion is westward due to Earth’s eastward rotation.
• The motion is along the small circle centered at the north celestial pole.

Concept / Approach:
At meridian crossing, a star’s motion is tangent to its diurnal circle. Because all stars (including Polaris) drift westward, the instantaneous direction at upper culmination is westward along the parallel circle around the pole.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the diurnal motion: stars move westward across the sky.At upper culmination, Polaris is at maximum altitude but still moves westward along its small circle.Hence the correct choice is “Westward.”

Verification / Alternative check:
Time-lapse star-trail photographs around the north celestial pole show circular arcs concave to the pole, progressing westward at all positions, including at meridian transits.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Eastward: opposite to the apparent celestial motion.Northward/Southward: would imply radial motion toward or away from the pole; actual motion is tangential.Stationary: Polaris is not exactly at the pole; it has a small but real daily motion.

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming “highest altitude” means “no motion”; it simply marks an extremum in altitude, not a halt in apparent motion.

Final Answer:
Westward.