The Earth spins once a day on its tilted axis while making its yearly orbit around the Sun. Because of this, the stars in the night sky slowly change position over time. Yet there is one star that remains fixed in the same spot all year round—the North Star.
From our viewpoint on Earth, all the stars seem to sweep counterclockwise across the night sky, with the North Star appearing at the center. Technically, it moves as well, but its motion is so slight—and its distance from us so great—that it seems perfectly still. The name “North Star” refers not to its actual identity, but to its position: the point nearest to Earth’s north rotational axis. What appears as a single pinpoint of light is in fact a system of three stars. To locate it, find the two stars at the tip of the Big Dipper’s “bowl,” draw a line through them, and extend it about five times their distance apart. There you’ll find the North Star, shining faithfully.
In the darkest nights over ancient deserts and seas, the North Star served as a compass for countless travelers. On life’s long and uncertain journey, don’t we all need a guiding star of our own? Even if we lose our way, that steadfast light—constant and unchanging—will lead us back to the right path.
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