The sky can tell you north
A phone stops working on a dark terrace. There is no compass, a tool that shows north. Which way is north?
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Step 1 of 4
- The Pole Star sits fixed at the top. Facing it is north.
- Turn a quarter-turn clockwise: now you face east.
- Turn another quarter: south.
- One more quarter: west.
The rule
In India, face the Pole Star and you face north.
One star sits almost above the North Pole, the top of Earth. So that star barely seems to move. This is the Pole Star.
Clockwise means the way a clock's hands turn. A quarter-turn is a quarter of a full circle.
Stars also form patterns called constellations. Saptarishi is a pattern of seven bright stars. Two stars on the Saptarishi bowl point to the Pole Star.
Watch out!
The Pole Star is not the brightest star. Other stars look brighter. The Pole Star is useful because it barely moves.