General Discussion

What is the equivalent of Polaris (polar north star used for navigation) on Mars?

Mars does not have a bright star like Polaris near its north celestial pole, so there isn't a direct equivalent of the North Star on Mars. However, the star Deneb (in the constellation Cygnus) is relatively close to Mars' north celestial pole. Although not as precisely aligned or as bright as Polaris is for Earth, Deneb serves as a rough reference point for Mars' north celestial pole.

For the south celestial pole on Mars, the nearest star is Kappa Velorum (in the constellation Vela), though it’s also not a perfect alignment. Navigators on Mars would likely use other methods, such as landmarks, technology, or star charts, instead of relying on a single "north star" for orientation.

How is Deneb not as bright as Polaris? Deneb has an apparent magnitude of 1.25 and Polaris 1.98.

You're correct that Deneb is indeed brighter than Polaris in terms of apparent magnitude. Deneb, with an apparent magnitude of about 1.25, is one of the brightest stars in the night sky, whereas Polaris has an apparent magnitude of about 1.98. Thank you for catching that!