What is the North Star commonly known as?

The North Star is commonly known as Polaris. It serves as a crucial reference point for navigation in the Northern Hemisphere due to its position almost directly above the North Pole. Historically, Polaris has been used by navigators to determine their latitude and guide their way across vast oceans. Unlike other stars that appear to move in the night sky due to the Earth's rotation, Polaris remains relatively fixed, making it an ideal marker for orientation.

While Altair, Betelgeuse, and Sirius are notable stars in their own right, none of them hold the same navigational significance as Polaris. Altair is prominent in the summer sky, Betelgeuse is a red supergiant in Orion, and Sirius, known as the Dog Star, is the brightest star in our night sky. However, it is Polaris that is unequivocally referred to as the North Star because of its alignment with the Earth's rotational axis.