What characterizes a circumpolar star?

A circumpolar star is characterized by its unique position in relation to an observer's latitude, particularly those near the poles. These stars appear to move in a circular path around the celestial pole and never dip below the horizon over the course of the night. This is due to their proximity to the pole; as the Earth rotates, these stars remain constantly visible from certain latitudes.

In contrast, stars that rise and set daily are not classified as circumpolar because they dip below the horizon at some point. Seasonal stars are those that are only visible during specific times of the year due to the Earth's orbit around the Sun and changing positions relative to those stars. Lastly, a star positioned near the Earth's equator would not be classified as circumpolar, as its visibility would vary with the seasons, unlike the persistent visibility of circumpolar stars.