Star

Polaris

Also known as ALPHA URSAE MINORIS · NORTH STAR · POLE STAR · QUTB

The North Star — the sky's pivot.

Visible tonight?

Up now · alt 35° N

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Rises: —
Transit: 00:22
Sets: —

Currently sits within 1° of the north celestial pole. Used by navigators for millennia.

Finding it

Use the two outer stars of the Big Dipper's bowl (Dubhe & Merak) — extend the line ~5× their separation toward Polaris.

Observing from Chitral

Polaris sits at almost exactly 35.9° above Chitral's northern horizon — your latitude, by definition. That makes it the practical reference for polar-aligning an equatorial mount here, and a fixed anchor for star-trail compositions over the Hindu Kush.

History & culture

Polaris has not always been the pole star: precession moved Thuban in Draco into the role around 3000 BCE, and in 12,000 years Vega will take the job.