where is the north star
The North Star is Polaris , and in the Northern Hemisphere it appears very close to the north celestial pole, so it seems almost fixed in the sky while the stars around it rotate. You can find it by using the Big Dipper’s two outer bowl stars as pointers toward Polaris.
Where to look
Polaris is in the constellation Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper), at the end of the Little Dipper’s handle. It is not the brightest star in the sky, but it is easy to identify because of its position, not its brightness.
Simple finder
- Find the Big Dipper.
- Look at the two stars on the outer edge of the dipper’s bowl.
- Trace an imaginary line from those stars about five times their distance.
- You should land on Polaris.
What it means
If you’re facing Polaris, you’re facing true north. That is why the North Star has been so useful for navigation for centuries.
TL;DR: The North Star is Polaris, located near the north celestial pole in the Little Dipper, and the Big Dipper points to it.
