How to read the stars for navigation in the desert?

Locating the North Star

The North Star (Polaris) is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor and appears as a small, steady light in the night sky. In the northern hemisphere, it is visible year-round, but in the tropics (between +23.5° and -23.5° latitude), it will be lower in the sky during the summer months. To locate Polaris, find the Big Dipper in the constellation Ursa Major. Draw an imaginary line through the two stars at the end of the “bowl” of the dipper, and continue that line 30° (about the width of your fist held at arm’s length) to the north. Polaris should be visible as a single star within this area.

Using the Big Dipper for Direction

Once you’ve located the North Star, use the Big Dipper to estimate your direction. From the North Star, draw a line through the two stars at the end of the bowl of the dipper to find east. The tip of the dipper (Dubhe) is about 30° east of the North Star, while the second star (Merak) from the tip is about 30° north of the North Star. Use this information to orient yourself in the desert at night.

Estimating Time and East-West Directions

Use the constellation Orion to estimate the time of night and get an idea of your east-west direction. Orion is visible in the sky from November to January and appears as a large constellation with the three stars that form the “belt” aligned almost perfectly east-west. If you see Orion, it should be high in the sky between midnight and 3 am. Use the constellations Cassiopeia and Cepheus near the North Star to help you orient yourself east-west.