What is the North Star (Polaris) and how do I find it?
Quick Answer: The North Star, or Polaris, is the bright star almost directly above Earth's North Pole. You can find it by locating the Big Dipper constellation, then drawing an imaginary line through its two "pointer" stars at the edge of the bowl upward. Polaris sits at the end of the Little Dipper's handle.
Polaris is special because it stays nearly fixed in the sky, making it a reliable reference point for navigation in the Northern Hemisphere. Unlike other stars that appear to move, Polaris marks true north.
To find it, first spot the Big Dipper, which looks like a ladle. Focus on the two stars forming the outer edge of its bowl. Follow a straight line from these stars upward about five times the distance between them. That points you right to Polaris!