<p>This is mostly to show that the image in Kavin's answer is just an artifact of the projection used.  I have turned on the equitorial grid lines and placed Orion horizontally equal with Polaris, so that a straight line from Orion to Polaris remains a straight line in the projection.</p>
<p>As you can see, no bright stars in Orion form a line towards Polaris.  However, Rigel and Capella do make a descent pointer to Polaris.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/hCGht.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/hCGht.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-05T16:00:46.833Z
Actually I think this shows the opposite of what you say!  It suggests that, in spite of the distortion from the projection, tracing from Orion, through Capella does lead to Polaris in a quite nice way.  The main problem with this is the large amount of sky covered.  If you don't know roughly where to look for Polaris, this would be hard to use.
James K
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-07T00:16:05.773Z
I'm not sure if you replied to the wrong post, not only did I not say you can't trace from Orion to Capella to find Polaris, I included a diagram showing how to do it.
Greg Miller
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-05T03:05:00.990Z
2022-03-05T03:05:00.990Z
Greg Miller
<blockquote>
<p>Would that help me to identify Polar star?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Probably yes</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/pW8rC.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/pW8rC.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>In the above picture, you will see that in the Orion belt, if you construct an imaginary line that passes through Saiph, Meissa (to be specific, the star that lies between Betelgeuse and Bellatrix) it will certainly pass through Capella, and it lead slightly below the pole star Polaris.</p>
<p>Note: the above image is taken with respect to Northern Hemisphere, if you can point Saiph and Meissa , It also works in Southern Hemisphere (Only if you observe Half a Degree south of equator)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-03T16:51:42.010Z
Huh? We can't see Polaris in the southern hemisphere!
PM 2Ring
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-03T17:03:59.700Z
@PM2Ring of course you can observe glimpse of Polaris within half a degree south of Equator, Although its not that bright to observe with naked eye, with suitable conditions, theoretically we can observe polaris in **Southern Hemisphere**. I have specified it
Kavin Ishwaran
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-03T18:06:42.767Z
Ok. Actually, it's around 1° S, when you include atmospheric refraction. But even that's only ~60 nautical miles south of the equator. And you need a clear view of the horizon.
PM 2Ring
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-03T18:33:23.997Z
This will most certainly not work as drawn.  The image is a projection of the celestial sphere and will have very significant distortions on such a wide field of view.  e.g. look at how curved the horizon is.
Greg Miller
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-03T19:26:47.593Z
Orion's belt is a good way to find the celestial equator, but it's 90 degrees away from Polaris, and not useable in the summer.
stretch
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-04T01:13:11.150Z
@PM2Ring Yes :-)
Kavin Ishwaran
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-04T01:15:21.873Z
@GregMiller I have said to construct a imaginary line, as if we are not going to take a ruler to construct that line, while we take our finger to do that, we will curve w.r.t horizon. I have also tried it in my place before answering :)
Kavin Ishwaran
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-03T15:04:12.953Z
2022-03-03T17:02:02.097Z
2022-03-03T17:02:02.097Z
Kavin Ishwaran
<p>Usually the polar star is identified based on Pointing stars in Big dipper(saucepan) shape..</p>
<p>Compared to big dipper, it is easier to identify Orion's belt. Would that help me to identify Polar star?</p>

<star><amateur-observing><orion>
Is there a way to find polar star after identifying Orion's belt?
Dynamic_equilibrium
# Is there a way to find polar star after identifying Orion's belt?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-03-03)

Usually the polar star is identified based on Pointing stars in Big dipper(saucepan) shape..

Compared to big dipper, it is easier to identify Orion's belt. Would that help me to identify Polar star?

**Tags:** star, amateur-observing, orion


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2022-03-03. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

> Would that help me to identify Polar star?

Probably yes

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/pW8rC.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/pW8rC.png)

In the above picture, you will see that in the Orion belt, if you construct an imaginary line that passes through Saiph, Meissa (to be specific, the star that lies between Betelgeuse and Bellatrix) it will certainly pass through Capella, and it lead slightly below the pole star Polaris.

Note: the above image is taken with respect to Northern Hemisphere, if you can point Saiph and Meissa , It also works in Southern Hemisphere (Only if you observe Half a Degree south of equator)

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Huh? We can't see Polaris in the southern hemisphere!  
> **username_3**: @username_4 of course you can observe glimpse of Polaris within half a degree south of Equator, Although its not that bright to observe with naked eye, with suitable conditions, theoretically we can observe polaris in **Southern Hemisphere**. I have specified it  
> **username_4**: Ok. Actually, it's around 1° S, when you include atmospheric refraction. But even that's only ~60 nautical miles south of the equator. And you need a clear view of the horizon.  
> **username_1**: This will most certainly not work as drawn.  The image is a projection of the celestial sphere and will have very significant distortions on such a wide field of view.  e.g. look at how curved the horizon is.  
> **username_5**: Orion's belt is a good way to find the celestial equator, but it's 90 degrees away from Polaris, and not useable in the summer.  
> **username_3**: @username_4 Yes :-)  
> **username_3**: @username_1 I have said to construct a imaginary line, as if we are not going to take a ruler to construct that line, while we take our finger to do that, we will curve w.r.t horizon. I have also tried it in my place before answering :)  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2022-03-05. Score: 1

This is mostly to show that the image in username_3's answer is just an artifact of the projection used. I have turned on the equitorial grid lines and placed Orion horizontally equal with Polaris, so that a straight line from Orion to Polaris remains a straight line in the projection.

As you can see, no bright stars in Orion form a line towards Polaris. However, Rigel and Capella do make a descent pointer to Polaris.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/hCGht.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/hCGht.png)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Actually I think this shows the opposite of what you say!  It suggests that, in spite of the distortion from the projection, tracing from Orion, through Capella does lead to Polaris in a quite nice way.  The main problem with this is the large amount of sky covered.  If you don't know roughly where to look for Polaris, this would be hard to use.  
> **username_1**: I'm not sure if you replied to the wrong post, not only did I not say you can't trace from Orion to Capella to find Polaris, I included a diagram showing how to do it.  

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