If you are right at the Equator, you will not be able to see Polaris. If you could, it would be right on the horizon, but ground haze and obstructions would almost certainly hide it from view.
Since Polaris is located at the North Celestial Pole, if you are standing on Earth's equator, Polaris will not be visible directly overhead. Instead, it would be located on the northern horizon due to the Earth's curvature and your position relative to the pole.
On the north horizon
directly overhead
If you were standing at Earth's North Pole, the North Star, also known as Polaris, would be located directly in the zenith, or straight overhead. This is because Polaris is situated very close to the celestial north pole in the night sky.
Your latitude is 20 degrees north of the equator because Polaris is located at the celestial north pole, which is directly above the Earth's North Pole. This means that the angle between Polaris and your zenith corresponds to your angular distance north of the equator.
It is not visible at or south of the Equator. Theoretically , it would appear on the horizon. Remember the Pole Star is overhead at 90 degree N. (The North Pole). So when you have reached the Equator, your angle has changed by 90 degrees because you are now at 0(zero) degrees. So viewing the sky Polaris (Pole Star) will has now changed its angle by 90 degrees. So from being overhead, a 90 degree angle will be the horizon. You don't see Polaris at the Equator, because of the density of the atmosphere, dust and dirt and moisture in the atmosphere.
To measure latitude using Polaris (the North Star), you would need to use a sextant or astrolabe to measure the angle between the horizon and Polaris. This angle would be equivalent to your latitude in the northern hemisphere. The higher Polaris appears in the sky, the closer you are to the North Pole.
The North Star (Polaris) appears closest to the horizon at the Earth's equator (0° latitude) because as you move away from the equator towards the poles, the angle of Polaris above the horizon increases. At the North Pole (90° latitude), Polaris is directly overhead.
If you were standing at Earth's North Pole, the North Star, also known as Polaris, would be located directly in the zenith, or straight overhead. This is because Polaris is situated very close to the celestial north pole in the night sky.
north
Your latitude is 20 degrees north of the equator because Polaris is located at the celestial north pole, which is directly above the Earth's North Pole. This means that the angle between Polaris and your zenith corresponds to your angular distance north of the equator.
north
north
the north pole
It is not visible at or south of the Equator. Theoretically , it would appear on the horizon. Remember the Pole Star is overhead at 90 degree N. (The North Pole). So when you have reached the Equator, your angle has changed by 90 degrees because you are now at 0(zero) degrees. So viewing the sky Polaris (Pole Star) will has now changed its angle by 90 degrees. So from being overhead, a 90 degree angle will be the horizon. You don't see Polaris at the Equator, because of the density of the atmosphere, dust and dirt and moisture in the atmosphere.
To measure latitude using Polaris (the North Star), you would need to use a sextant or astrolabe to measure the angle between the horizon and Polaris. This angle would be equivalent to your latitude in the northern hemisphere. The higher Polaris appears in the sky, the closer you are to the North Pole.
Polaris makes a little circle of about 1/3° radius around the celestial north pole every day. But we don't notice that, and it appears to mark the pole itself. So the altitude of Polaris is essentially equal to the observer's north latitude. If he's standing 41° north of the equator, then he'll see Polaris at roughly 41° above his northern horizon.
The Earthg's north pole points very close to Polaris in the sky. So Polaris is directly over your head when you stand at the north pole, it's on your horizon when you stand on the equator, and it's somewhere between your horizon and the point directly over your head when you stand somewhere between the north pole and the equator.
The North Star (Polaris) appears closest to the horizon at the Earth's equator (0° latitude) because as you move away from the equator towards the poles, the angle of Polaris above the horizon increases. At the North Pole (90° latitude), Polaris is directly overhead.
You can see it from anywhere in North America, and the parts of South America that are north of the equator.