How to Find Your Latitude

Using the star Polaris (the North Star), you can find out your almost exact latitude!

Using an astrolabe (see external link, "Making a Simple Astrolabe"), lie as close to the ground as possible, and find Polaris. (This is The North Star! Use a star map to find it, or look for the last star in the handle of the little dipper (Ursa Minor). There are also two pointer stars in the big dipper Ursa Major), which almost directly lead to Polaris.)

Have someone else read the angle of the star. Then, whatever you get is your altitude!

Tips

• Quick rule: The altitude to Polaris equals the latitude of the observer.

Warnings

• This only works in the Northern Hemisphere!
• Polaris will be the North Star until the year 7500, when Alpha Cephei will become the North Star, due to the axis and rotation of the earth.