How to find the polar star

The polar star is a star visible from the northern hemisphere, being the closest to the point at which the axis of the Earth is directed. This means that its location indicates the polar North and that all the other constellations revolve around it, being its position relatively constant. This can be useful for orientation, if you want to know more about it, in .com we explain how to find the polar star .

What use does it have?

The main utility of the polar star is to locate the North to achieve orientation in case of not having any other method. This system was very old, when there were no compasses or other modern systems, by travelers and fishermen. Nowadays it can still be useful in crossings by nature and even if you are at sea.

Little Bear

To find the polar star from the Ursa Minor you have to follow a very simple procedure. First of all, in order to see the Ursa Minor, in order to do so you must orient yourself, more or less, towards the North and raising your head, calculating the degrees according to the latitude in which we find ourselves and bearing in mind that it is a constellation formed by stars Once done, the polar star will be easily distinguishable, since it is located as the last star of the tail of this constellation.

Great Bear

You can also locate the polar star through the Big Dipper, although it is a bit more difficult. To find the Big Dipper, it is necessary to take into account that it is formed by 7 stars arranged in its unmistakable form of dipper. It is easier to locate than the smaller one, since it is larger and more centered. Once this constellation is located, we must consider the distance between the stars Merak and Dubhe, which are those that are part of the square so characteristic of the Big Dipper . If you multiply this distance by 5, you can find the tail of the Ursa Minor, where the polar star is located.

Other methods

One of the simplest systems to find it is to look in the sky for the star that gives off a greater intensity of light, that is, the one that shines the most. This system is easy to apply in case the sky is completely clear. If you want to locate the polar star in a practical way, although not very useful, you can take a compass and find where it marks the North. It is important to know that the magnetic and polar North do not point exactly to the same place, so it is approximate.

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