> > So I run planetarium software, step it through different times, and note > that a bright star will be at that position in the sky at 21:30 the > previous night. > With IridFlar, you also get RA/Dec. (Or find them from SkyMap or any planetarium program) Then find a suitable star at a similar declination. If this star's RA is HH hours SMALLER, then look for it HH (siderial) hours EARLIER. You should compensate for the siderial day - ten seconds LATER for each HH hour. I have also used a compass (to find daytime reference points in az) and an adjustable carpenter's angle with built-in spirit level. I hold it aiming along the set angle, watching the spirit level in a mirror, just before the observation to get the feel of the angle (or find the proper tree-top, or corner of a roof) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org http://www2.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Apr 17 2001 - 22:58:34 PDT