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According to Scientific American: "The North Star, or Polaris, is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor, the little bear (also known as the Little Dipper)."
Click on the link to the right for their full article (with a picture showing the location).
AnswerAnother way to find Polaris is to locate the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) which is usually easy to find from the Northern hemisphere, and then look at the two stars on the lip, or front side of the cup. These are Merak, on the bottom, and Dubhe on the tip of the lip. If you estimate the distance between these two and then follow a line straight up from Merak through Dubhe about three times that distance, you will find Polaris. It will appear to be approximately due North from any place it can be seen (which is nice for orienting yourself at night). As mentioned above, Polaris is also part of the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor) and is the star at the end of the handle.Because Polaris lies nearly in a direct line with the axis of the Earth's rotation "above" the North Pole - the north celestial pole - Polaris stands almost motionless on the sky, and all the stars of the Northern sky appear to rotate around it. Therefore, it makes an excellent fixed point from which to draw measurements for celestial navigation and for astrometry.
Additional AnswerIf you mean where in space is the star, relative to earth, it is 431 light years away from earth, about 2 degrees away from a line going from the south pole through the north pole.The web site in the related links also shows the direction of Polaris relative to Earth in the galaxy.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThe way to find Polaris is to locate the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) which is usually easy to find from the Northern hemisphere, and then look at the two stars on the lip, or front side of the cup. These are Merak, on the bottom, and Dubhe on the tip of the lip. If you estimate the distance between these two and then follow a line straight up from Merak through Dubhe about three times that distance, you will find Polaris. It will appear to be approximately due North from any place it can be seen (which is nice for orienting yourself at night). As mentioned above, Polaris is also part of the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor) and is the star at the end of the handle.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoIn the northern hemisphere (north of about 5 degrees north), the north star Polaris is visible during any nighttime hours, weather permitting.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoClose, but not quite. The North Star is actually at declination 89 degrees, 18 minutes, so it is 42 minutes (not quite 3/4 of a degree) away from the exact celestial north pole.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoPolaris is the North Star
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoit has always existed
Wiki User
∙ 11y agopolaris
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoevery were
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How did the vikings use the north star to navigate?
The Earth's rotation axis points to the northern star (to a degree of so). So the northern star always points north. More people that just the vikings used this method, and it is still used today by people (but GPS and compasses are also used today).
What star was once a northern polar star?
The North Star, a.k.a. Polaris.The North Star, a.k.a. Polaris.The North Star, a.k.a. Polaris.The North Star, a.k.a. Polaris.
The name of your north star is called?
The North Star is Polaris.
What is another word for the North Star?
The name of the north star is Polaris. As the brightest star in the constellation of Ursa Minor it is also called alpha Ursae Minoris. It is actually a multiple star comprised of Polaris Aa, Polaris Ab and Polaris B.
What is the angle between the northern horizon and the North star Polaris if your latitude is 75 degrees north?
The North star will be 75 degrees above the horizon. Whatever degree you are at latitude, the North star will be the same degrees up. So at the north pole (90 degrees north), the star will be at the zenith (straight up). While at the equator (0 degrees north) the star will be at the horizon.
How did the vikings use the north star to navigate?
The Earth's rotation axis points to the northern star (to a degree of so). So the northern star always points north. More people that just the vikings used this method, and it is still used today by people (but GPS and compasses are also used today).
What was the north star?
The star "Polaris" is the North Star.
What star is always pointing north?
North star
What is the north star and how did it help explorers?
The North Star is a star that where ever you are, when you look at it, that is north. It helped explorers to know which way is north;)
What star was once a northern polar star?
The North Star, a.k.a. Polaris.The North Star, a.k.a. Polaris.The North Star, a.k.a. Polaris.The North Star, a.k.a. Polaris.
Can you see the star of Jesus today?
No you can not see that star today as it was a special bright star.
Is the north star real?
Yes. The north star is an actual star that is roughly aligned with Earth's north pole.
Is the north star a star or a planet?
I think the answer is in the question. North Star!! It's a star called Polaris
The name of your north star is called?
The North Star is Polaris.
Is the north star everywhere?
No. The north star, Polaris is one particular star almost directly above the North Pole.
When was North Star Computers created?
North Star Computers ended in 1984.
Why is minnesota's nickname The North Star State?
because their motto is 'the north star' so its the north star state
