What is a circumpolar star?

A circumpolar star is a star that appears to travel in a nearly circular path around either the celestial poles of the Earth, not rising or setting due to its proximity to the pole. This means that the star is visible in the night sky all year round and can be observed throughout the night as it moves around the pole. Circumpolar stars are not limited to any particular spectral type or brightness level, and many well-known star constellations contain circumpolar stars. Examples of circumpolar stars include Polaris in the northern hemisphere and Sigma Octantis in the southern hemisphere.