pole star
Celestial navigation anchor
The pole star is the star closest to a celestial pole, appearing nearly fixed in the sky while other stars rotate around it.
In the Northern Hemisphere, this is currently Polaris in the constellation Ursa Minor.
Because it indicates true north, the pole star has guided navigators for millennia.
Figuratively, a pole star is any guiding principle or fixed point of reference: Justice was the pole star of her career.
Guiding light source
- lodestarCelestial navigation reference
- reference pointStandard for comparison
- guiding lightInspirational moral influence
- fixed pointValue unchanged by function
touchstone · anchor · waymark · constant · direction · orientation · pathfinding · signal
Northern circumpolar constellation
- circumpolarAround the pole
- magnitudeSize or scale
- declinationAngular distance from equator
- parallaxPosition change from different vantages
supergiant · luminosity · stargazing · telescope · observatory · night sky · celestial sphere · constellation
Device showing cardinal directions
- sextantMaritime angular measurement device
- latitudeGeographic or personal freedom
- longitudeEast-west angular distance
- bearingPosture or orientation
waypoint · course · mariner · astrolabe · nautical · chart · celestial navigation · dead reckoning
Firmly loyal, unshakeable
- unwaveringSteady and unchanging
- fixedRestored or immovable
- immovableIncapable of being shifted
- unchangingNot varying at all
reliable · dependable · permanent · enduring · stable · eternal · constant · faithful
Earth's northernmost zone
- Northern HemisphereRegion above the equator
- borealOf northern regions
- aurora borealisHigh-latitude luminous sky phenomenon
- midnight sunPerpetual summer daylight above Arctic Circle
Traveling by ocean vessel
- voyageJourney by sea
- helmsmanOne who navigates vessels
- watchPortable timekeeping device
- night watchOvernight security patrol
deck · shipboard · passage · open sea · offshore · transoceanic · masthead · crow's nest
beacon
Guiding light source
- lodestarCelestial navigation reference
- reference pointStandard for comparison
- guiding lightInspirational moral influence
fixed point · touchstone · anchor · waymark · constant · direction · orientation · pathfinding · signal · marker
Ursa Minor
Northern circumpolar constellation
- circumpolarAround the pole
- magnitudeSize or scale
- declinationAngular distance from equator
parallax · supergiant · luminosity · stargazing · telescope · observatory · night sky · celestial sphere · constellation · precession
compass
Device showing cardinal directions
- sextantMaritime angular measurement device
- latitudeGeographic or personal freedom
- longitudeEast-west angular distance
bearing · waypoint · course · mariner · astrolabe · nautical · chart · celestial navigation · dead reckoning · azimuth
steadfast
Firmly loyal, unshakeable
- unwaveringSteady and unchanging
- fixedRestored or immovable
- immovableIncapable of being shifted
unchanging · reliable · dependable · permanent · enduring · stable · eternal · constant · faithful · true
Arctic
Earth's northernmost zone
- Northern HemisphereRegion above the equator
- borealOf northern regions
- aurora borealisHigh-latitude luminous sky phenomenon
midnight sun · circumpolar · northern · hyperborean · northward
seafaring
Traveling by ocean vessel
night watch · deck · shipboard · passage · open sea · offshore · transoceanic · masthead · crow's nest
- starsstars, Sirius, sol, sun, Vega
- celestial navigationcelestial navigation, sextant, astrolabe, nautical almanac, celestial sphere
- Egyptian astronomySirius, Nut, Orion, lunar calendar, solar calendar
- Pole Stars
- spacespace, sun, moon, stars, Earth
- posts and polesfence post, flagpole, lamp post, goal post, goalpost
pole starwandering star
Heavenly body that moves
planet · comet · meteor · shooting star · Mars
pole starwill-o'-the-wisp
Misleading light over wetlands
red herring · mirage · darkness · void · uncharted waters
pole starweathervane
Device showing wind direction
shifting sands · quicksand · will-o'-the-wisp · rolling stone · drifter