Figure 1-3The Big Dipper as a Guide In the northern hemisphere, the Big Dipper is an easily recognized pattern of seven bright stars. This star chart shows how the Big Dipper can be used to locate Polaris (the North Star) as well as the brightest stars in three other constellations. While the Big Dipper appears right side up in this drawing of the sky shortly before sunrise, at other times of the night it appears upside down.