The altitude of Polaris, or its angle above the horizon, can be roughly estimated by the observer's latitude. Syracuse, New York, is located at approximately 43 degrees north latitude, so Polaris would be about 43 degrees above the northern horizon. This angle may vary slightly due to local topography and atmospheric conditions, but it generally remains close to this value.
The altitude of Polaris (the North Star) at Syracuse, NY, is approximately equal to the latitude of the location. Syracuse is located at about 43 degrees North latitude, so Polaris would be roughly 43 degrees above the northern horizon. This can vary slightly based on your exact position within the city.
The altitude of Polaris, also known as the North Star, corresponds roughly to the latitude of the observer's location. Syracuse, NY, is located at approximately 43 degrees North latitude, so the altitude of Polaris from Syracuse would be about 43 degrees above the northern horizon. This means that if you are facing north in Syracuse, Polaris would be positioned at an angle of 43 degrees upwards from the horizon.
New York City.
The altitude of Polaris, also known as the North Star, is approximately equal to the observer's latitude. In Utica, New York, which is situated at about 43.1 degrees North latitude, Polaris would be observed at an altitude of roughly 43 degrees above the northern horizon. This means that if you are standing in Utica and looking north, Polaris would appear about 43 degrees up from the horizon.
If an observer in Pennsylvania measures the altitude of Polaris to be 40 degrees, they could be approximately 40 degrees north of the equator, which would imply a latitude close to 40 degrees north. This is because the altitude of Polaris above the horizon is equal to the observer's latitude in the Northern Hemisphere.
To determine the altitude of Polaris, you can measure the angle between the horizon and Polaris using a simple instrument like a protractor or sextant. The altitude of Polaris above the horizon corresponds closely to your latitude in the Northern Hemisphere; for example, if you measure Polaris at an angle of 40 degrees above the horizon, you are approximately at 40° latitude. This relationship occurs because Polaris is positioned nearly directly above the North Pole.
Polaris will be 23.5 degrees above the northern horizon when viewed from the Tropic of Cancer.
The altitude of Polaris at the equator is 0 degrees. This means that Polaris is directly on the horizon and not visible at all from the equator. Polaris can only be seen in the northern hemisphere at latitudes above 23.5 degrees.
An observer in New York measuring the altitude of Polaris at 42 degrees would typically be located at a latitude of approximately 42 degrees north. This aligns with parts of upstate New York, such as the northern regions around cities like Syracuse or Rochester. Since Polaris is positioned nearly directly above the North Pole, its altitude corresponds closely to the observer's latitude.
The altitude of Polaris, or its angle above the horizon, is approximately equal to the observer's latitude. Nashville, TN, is located at a latitude of about 36.16° N. Therefore, when viewed from Nashville, Polaris would have an altitude of roughly 36 degrees above the northern horizon.
90 degrees
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.