Neptune's Needle

The North(ern) Star is the prominent pole star that lies closest in the sky to the north celestial pole, and which appears (approximately) directly overhead to an observer at the Earth's North Pole. Used by navigators to estimate their latitude by measuring the angle from the horizon to the star.

A common method for locating Polaris in the sky is to use the "pointer stars" which are the two stars furthest from the "handle" of the easily spotted Big Dipper (part of the constellation Ursa Major). Its position in the sky is not visibly affected by time of day or season.

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Peter Richards