How does the North Star help people find their way?

The Earth rotates, or spins, on its axis. Earth’s axis is like an imaginary line that runs from the South Pole through the centre of the Earth to the North Pole. The North Pole points toward the North Star, or Polaris. If it is a clear night, the bright North Star is always visible in the northern sky. Because of this, the North Star helps people locate north even if they don’t have a compass.

Sailors and other travellers have used the North Star as a natural compass for centuries. In the 1800s, slaves in the southern United States went north to escape slavery. Since most slaves could not read or write, they gave directions using songs. One song said to follow the “drinking gourd”, which was another name for the Big Dipper. The Big Dipper and the North Star are very close to one another.