Which two stars in the Big Dipper serve as the 'Pointers' for locating Polaris?
Answer
Merak and Dubhe, forming the outer edge of the bowl
Navigators historically relied on easily recognizable asterisms to find Polaris, and the Big Dipper (part of Ursa Major) is key to this method. Specifically, one must identify the two stars that form the outer edge of the bowl, opposite the handle. These stars are named Merak and Dubhe, and they are collectively referred to as the 'Pointers.' By drawing an imaginary line connecting Merak and Dubhe and extending it outwards, travelers can trace a path directly toward Polaris, which is located about five times the distance separating the two pointer stars.
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