Polaris (North Star)

Polaris (North Star, Pole Star) is the brightest star in Ursa Minor constellation, approximately 434 light years distant from the Earth.

It is known holding nearly still in our sky while the entire northern sky moves around it. That’s because it’s located nearly at the north celestial pole, the point around which the entire northern sky seemingly turns. Therefore it marks the way due north; the pole marks true north, which makes the North Star important in navigation, as the star’s elevation above the horizon closely matches the observer’s latitude.

For observers at the North Pole, the star lies directly overhead. For observers at the equator, Polaris sits right on the horizon.