00:00The North Star isn't the brightest star in the sky, but it can help you find your way
00:04and or
00:05orient yourself nonetheless.
00:06Polaris, known as the North Star, sits more than
00:10more or less directly above Earth's North Pole, along its rotational axis.
00:15This means Polaris doesn't move very far over the course of the night, while the rest of the
00:20stars sweep out big circles as they rotate around the sky.
00:24Finding Polaris
00:25Polaris is easy on any clear night, just find the Big Dipper.
00:30The stars on the end of the dipper's cup point the way to Polaris, which is the tip of the
00:34handle of the
00:35little dipper, or the tail on the little bear of the constellation Ursa Minor.
00:40Once you're facing toward Polaris, you know you're facing North, which can help you orient yourself
00:45any evening you're out stargazing.
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