1. Aim: How can we explain the relationship between Polaris and our latitude?

2. What isPolaris? The north Star. Sits above the North Pole
Used by travelers

3. Altitude
The height above the horizon
Measured in degrees

4. In the Northern Hemisphere, the altitude of Polaris is always equal to your latitude

5. Another Polaris Trick Polaris can be used to determine your latitude!
Angle from Polaris to horizon is your latitude
Image taken from

6. Finding Polaris: the North Star
Polaris is nature’s compass
Draw a line straight from Polaris to the horizon with your finger and you will be pointing toward geographic north*
To find Polaris
1) Start at the two end stars of the big dipper ladle 1. Merak and 2. Dubhe
2) Multiply their distance by 4 and follow the line from 1 to 2 that distance until you hit 3 Polaris 3 2 1
*Only works if you can see the big dipper
Image taken from

7. Longitude The Earth rotates 15° per hour
If you are in New York (3 pm) and your friend is in California (12 pm), how many degrees of longitude separate you?
45°
If it is 4 pm in England and you travel 60° to the East, what time is it?
8 pm