Guardians of the Pole

The Guardians of the Pole are the two stars at the end of the Little Dipper. These stars are 2nd magnitude Kochab and 3rd magnitude Pherkad. The Guardians of the Pole get their name from their proximity to the North Celestial Pole. Look for Kochab and Pherkad during the summer months. This asterism lies too far north to be visible from the Southern hemisphere.