Polaris is a star in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Minor. It is commonly known as the North Star or Pole Star because it appears almost directly above Earths north pole along our planet's rotational axis. Polaris is not the brightest star in the sky, but it is usually easy to spot, even from the city. It is a "pulsing" star, a type of star known as a Cepheid variable, which means that it appears to vary in brightness ever so slightly over a time frame of just under four days. Polaris is part of the constellation known as Ursa Minor and the cluster of stars called the Little Dipper.
It is important for navigation because it is located in the direction of true north (or geographic north, as opposed to magnetic north) . Following Polaris will lead a traveler in the Northern Hemisphere due north. Polaris is also used by astronomers to determine the position of the celestial pole, which is the point in the sky around which the stars appear to rotate.
It is worth noting that the term "Polaris" is also used in other contexts. For example, Polaris Project is an organization that works to reshape the systems that allow for sex and labor trafficking in North America and operates the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline. Additionally, Polaris is a brand that produces off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, and boats.
