How to find Polaris using 'The Plough'

To find Polaris (The Pole Star) you can use one of, if probably not, the most recognisable asterisms in the northern hemisphere, The Plough.

On a clear night look up and find The Plough (or The Big Dipper) and locate the two stars which form the blade of the plough, Merak and Dubhe.

Now, in your mind as you look at these stars, draw an imaginary line between Merak and Dubhe and extend the line north until you come to the relatively bright star, Polaris.

The Big Dipper

The Big Dipper is an asterism in the constellation Ursa Major. Resemblimg a large ladle or dipping spoon, it is probably the most recognisable asterism in the night sky in the UK. This is partly because the stars within it are of magnitude 2.5 or lower but also because the constellation Ursa Major is circumpolar so it is always visible all year round from the northern hemisphere.

The same seven stars also form the asterisms The Plough and The Saucepan.