How to Find the North Star
This applies to anyone living in the Northern Hemisphere. You can easily find the North Star by using the Plough constellation (or ‘Big Dipper’ as it’s sometimes called) as a guide.
The Plough is one of the easiest constellations to see in the night sky. You will have seen it before, but here is a reminder of its shape:
Look at the two stars on the bottom right hand side. They are known as the ‘Pointer Stars’. Look above the Pointer Stars at the angle and direction they are pointing to.
The next bright star you will see is Polaris – the North Star. It’s as simple as that. Find the Plough, and you will find the North Star.
You can take this one stage further for easy constellation spotting. Once you have followed the Ploughs pointer stars to the North Star carry on looking past the North Star in the same direction and you will find Cassiopeia.
Not many people know this constellation but it’s very easy to recognise – it’s shape is a big ‘W’. Cassiopeia depicts a queen seated on her throne. It is easy to see with the naked eye, but if you have some binoculars take a look. The Milky Way runs through Cassiopeia and it’s a really beautiful sight.
If you can see the night sky, you will now never get lost, you can always find North. The Plough and Cassiopeia will move around the sky, but once you have spotted one of these constellations you can find Polaris.
The North Star never moves, which is why it’s so useful for navigation. However the Plough and Cassiopeia move around the Pole Star. They are always on opposite sides to Polaris – the North Star is their swivel point for a celestial dance…….Happy viewing.
Marathon Runner, Drinker and Artist, Blogging for Pleasure and Profit.
Hi John,
Thank you for the graphic and description on finding the north star. I LOVE the stars (not that I know that much about them) and although we don’t have a clear sky right now and heading toward a full moon, I’ll take my binoculars out soon to check it out
Many Thanks,
Svenja
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John, this is so interesting, thank you for sharing it.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
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John,
I will now study the night sky and look for these constellations, now I know what I am looking at :O)
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WOW - Three really rapid comments....Thanks Svenja, Mandy and Margaret. Glad to have helped you around the night sky....I will be interested to see your commments on my next post: 'Police Warning':O)John
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Great post John –
Really love the way you “mix things up” on your blog –
Surprisingly, Orion and North Star are the ONLY star/constellation I know how to find! I USED to know how to find Cassiopaeia (probably the wrong spelling but also known as the 7 sisters). Any chance you could do one on that too??
Sensational graphics!
Susan
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Thanks for the suggestion Susan,I'm always looking for new post ideas. Orion is one of my favourite constellations, and I am fascinated by the 'Seven Sisters'- probably because they featured in one of my favourite science fiction films; Dark Star.
Actually you have got that a bit mixed up - the Seven Sisters is an 'open cluster' of stars officially called the Pleiades. I will write a post on both of these sky features soon. Thanks again for the idea.
John
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