ME N AGAINST THE SEA 
27 
Now that you know how to locate Polaris — if you are north 
of the Equator (if you are south of the Equator you won’t 
be able to see it) — remember this rule. The number of degrees 
Polaris is above your horizon will always be nearly equal to 
your latitude. 
This means, if Polaris is 30° above the horizon, you are in 
latitude 30° N. ; if it is 50° above the horizon you are in 50° N. ; 
if it is 90° above your horizon you are at the North Pole and 
that is no place to be in a rubber boat ! 
Figure 6 is a diagrammatic sketch of what has just been 
described. 
LATITUDE 
4S Mo 
Directly 
Overhead 
i 
^ Polaris 
* 
/ 
/ 
/ 
/ 
\ / 
/ 
To estimate the angular distance of Polaris above the horizon 
you must first estimate the point in the heavens which is exactly 
