Question 1

True or false: In Greek myth, Pollux was immortal while his twin Castor was mortal.

Accepted Answer

True. Pollux was son of Zeus, granting immortality; Castor was mortal, so they shared it alternately.

Question 2

True or false: Pollux's Bayer designation is Beta Geminorum because it outshines Castor in modern times.

Accepted Answer

False. Actually, Pollux is Beta Geminorum, but Castor is Alpha; the naming predates brightness measurements.

Question 3

True or false: Pollux is a blue giant star, much hotter and larger than the Sun.

Accepted Answer

False. Pollux is actually an orange giant, cooler than the Sun, though larger and more luminous.

Question 4

True or false: Pollux is the brightest star in the constellation Gemini.

Accepted Answer

False. Castor is actually fainter; Pollux is the brightest, but Castor is the alpha star.

Question 5

True or false: Pollux is part of the Winter Hexagon asterism, alongside Sirius and Betelgeuse.

Accepted Answer

False. Pollux is not in the Winter Hexagon; that includes Capella, Aldebaran, Rigel, and others.

Question 6

True or false: Pollux has a confirmed exoplanet named Pollux b, discovered in 2006.

Accepted Answer

True. Yes, Pollux b (or Thestias) is a gas giant about 2.3 times Jupiter's mass orbiting the star.

Question 7

True or false: The name Pollux comes from the Latinized form of Greek Polydeuces, meaning 'very sweet.'

Accepted Answer

True. Polydeuces means 'very sweet' or 'much sweet wine,' fitting for a bright star.

Question 8

True or false: Pollux is one of the closest giant stars to Earth, only about 34 light-years away.

Accepted Answer

True. At ~34 light-years, Pollux is the nearest giant star to our solar system.

Pollux Trivia Questions