Q:
What Latitude Are You at When the North Star Is 5 Degrees Above the Horizon?
A:
Quick Answer
When the North Star (Polaris) appears 5 degrees above the horizon, it means that the observer is 5 degrees latitude north of the equator. Polaris is as many degrees above the northern horizon as the observer's latitude above the equator; at the North Pole (90 N), it is directly overhead.
Continue Reading
Credit:
Jill Fromer
Photodisc
Getty Images
Full Answer
For observers in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Star is easy to locate as long as the constellation Ursa Major, better known as the Great Bear or Big Dipper, is visible. A line drawn through the two bright stars at the far end of the Dipper's bowl points directly to Polaris.
Learn more about Maps & CartographySources:
Related Questions
-
Q:
How Do You Find the North Star?
A: The North Star, Polaris, is found by mentally drawing and extending a line between the two stars at the end of the Big Dipper's bowl. Polaris can be seen f... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What Is the North Star?
A: The North Star is another name for the star Polaris. It is called the North Star because its location in the Northern Hemisphere remains constant throughou... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Where Is the Tropic of Capricorn Located?
A: The Tropic of Capricorn, also known as the Southern Tropic, is parallel to the equator and located at approximately 23.5 degrees south latitude. It is the ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Through Which Hemispheres Does the Tropic of Cancer Pass?
A: According to About.com, the Tropic of Cancer is a line of latitude that runs through the Northern Hemisphere, 23.5 degrees north of the equator. Because it... Full Answer >Filed Under:
