The history of the nautical star is unclear but it likely derives from the significance of Polaris, the north star. Because Polaris seems to be stationary in the night sky, with the other stars moving around its central north pole location, it is a key reference point for navigation. In nautical charts of today, the position of north (or zero degrees) on a compass is marked with a five-pointed star. While other maritime tattoo symbols deal with different destinations or the voyage and its perils, the nautical star is likely a symbol of the return home and the luck that is sometimes needed to reach it.