Polaris
From Slackerpedia Galactica
Contrary to popular belief, Polaris a dim trinary star system that on Earth appears as one star and lies above the north celestial pole. Therefore, it is currently considered a pole star.
Despite its utility and reputation for millenia, the star attracts only marginal interest from astronomers, amateur or professional. While still useful as a guide when orienting yourself when scanning the sky for other stars, there are usually better and brighter points of light for that purpose these days. If you want to show off to non-astronomers, an easily impressed date, or your cellmate as you're outrunning the attack dogs during a hurried escape attempt, being able to pick out Polaris may be worth the time to learn. Beware that in several thousand years it will lose its status as the pole star and become even more insignificant.
Check out Wikipedia to learn that one of its components is a Cepheid variable or to see pictures.
But never ever proclaim that it is the brightest star that shines. That ranks right up there with belief in the dark side of the moon.
