Final answer:
The altitude of Polaris as seen by an observer on Whiteface Mountain is approximately equal to the latitude of Whiteface Mountain which is around 44.4 degrees.
Step-by-step explanation:
The altitude of Polaris, also known as the North Star, as seen by an observer on Whiteface Mountain in the Mount Marcy region, is approximately equal to the observer's latitude.
This is because Polaris lies nearly above the north celestial pole, making it a pivot around which the entire sky appears to rotate due to Earth's rotation.
Whiteface Mountain is located in the Adirondacks in New York, which is at a latitude of approximately 44.4° N.
Therefore, to an observer standing on the summit of Whiteface Mountain, the altitude of Polaris above the horizon will be approximately 44.4 degrees.