Finding Polaris

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;

Thus begins the poem, Sea Fever, by John Masefield. But where do we find that “star to steer her by” when the sky is so full of them?

The best one is Polaris - also called the North Star - because if you know where north is, then you can guesstimate the other cardinal points.

If you are facing Polaris then…. behind you is south … to your right is east …. and to your left is west.

But, how do you find Polaris? Luckily, among all of the constellations in the night sky, one of the easiest to find is the Big Dipper.

Do you see the Big Dipper? A dipper is like a scoop. You should be able to see the bowl part as well as the handle in the night sky. All of the stars in this constellation are quite bright.

The wonderful thing about the big dipper is that the last two stars that make of the “bowl” of the dipper are “pointers” that will help you locate Polaris (the North Star). Follow the pointers, Merak and Dubhe, until you find a reasonably bright star. That star is Polaris.

On a really dark, starry evening, you will be able to notice the two dippers pouring into each other! Sound View Camp is a great place for stargazing because the sky isn't cluttered with city lights that make stars hard to see.

If you have hours to lay back on a warm night, you will notice that Polaris does not move as the other stars do. That’s because the Earth spins on its poles and Polaris appears situated over the North Pole. You will be able to see Polaris from dusk to dawn to steer your ship all through the night.