Which two stars are known as the 'pointer stars' used to locate Polaris?

• A. Aldebaran; Betelgeuse
• B. Deneb; Altair
• C. Merak; Dubhe
• D. Sirius; Procyon

Answer: (C)

Pointer stars are two bright stars that help you locate Polaris, the North Star. The pair are Merak and Dubhe, the two stars at the end of the Big Dipper’s bowl. If you draw a straight line from Merak through Dubhe and extend it outward, that line runs toward Polaris. Since Polaris sits nearly above the North Celestial Pole, this line provides a reliable way to find north in the night sky. The other pairs listed sit in different parts of the sky and don’t form the dependable pointer toward Polaris.