Zero. (It's on the horizon.)
Instruments such as a sextant or a quadrant can be used to determine the altitude of the North Star. By measuring the angle between the North Star and the horizon, navigators can determine their latitude.
The idea is there, but a couple of important terms are swapped.The altitude of the North Star above the northern horizon is approximately equal tothe observer's north latitude.
The altitude of the North Star will not change from any point on Earth. However, the declination changes depending upon where you are and when - It is less than 90 degrees.
The altitude of the North Star, or Polaris, from Minneapolis is approximately 45 degrees above the northern horizon. This is because Polaris is located nearly directly above the North Pole, and its altitude in the sky corresponds closely to the observer's latitude. Minneapolis is situated at about 45 degrees north latitude, making Polaris appear roughly at this altitude.
Northville, MI is at 42 degrees, 26 minutes North. The altitude of the North Star is between 42 degrees and 43 degrees, depending on the time. (Polaris isn't exactly at the North Pole; it is about 1/2 degree off.)
If you are at the North Pole, you'll see the star Polaris near the zenit (altitude almost 90 degrees).
To measure the altitude of the North Star (Polaris), an instrument called a sextant is commonly used. The sextant allows navigators to determine the angle between the horizon and the star, which corresponds to their latitude in the Northern Hemisphere. By measuring this angle, one can accurately ascertain their position relative to the North Star.
As you travel northward, the altitude of Polaris, or the North Star, increases. This is because Polaris is positioned almost directly above the North Pole, so at the North Pole, it is located directly overhead at an altitude of 90 degrees. Conversely, as you move south, the altitude of Polaris decreases.
The angular altitude of the North Star, or Polaris, corresponds to your latitude in the Northern Hemisphere. For example, if you are at a latitude of 40 degrees north, Polaris will be approximately 40 degrees above the northern horizon. Conversely, at the equator, Polaris would be at the horizon (0 degrees altitude), and it is not visible in the Southern Hemisphere. Thus, the angular altitude varies directly with your geographic location.
The altitude of polaris for an observer is always the same as your latitude so it would be 64oN
If the altitude of Polaris is 44 degrees, this means that the observer's latitude is also 44 degrees north. This is because Polaris, the North Star, is positioned nearly directly above the North Pole, and its altitude corresponds to the observer's latitude in the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, an altitude of 44 degrees indicates a geographic location at 44 degrees north latitude.
The device used to determine the altitude of the North Star (Polaris) is called an astrolabe. An astrolabe is an ancient astronomical instrument that allows users to measure the angle of celestial objects above the horizon. By aligning the astrolabe with Polaris, one can determine their latitude based on the altitude of the star. This technique has been used for navigation and understanding one's position on Earth.