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Hi - another new beginner


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Hi, I've recently taken up an interest in Astronomy and want to learn everything about it! [if that is even possible]. The weekend that just passed, I've struggled to see the meteor shower in cloudy, rainy Northern Ireland. Currently I don't plan to buy a telescope yet as I am a very poor university student. But I would like to learn about the constellations and recognising them - today I found this site and it was really helpful http://www.quietbay.net/Science/astronomy/nightsky . I want to know how would I locate Orion, Polaris, the Big Dipper in the sky? Do I need to use the planisphere? [am i correct?]

Thanks for reading and I would appreciate a reply : )

[sorry, i posted this on the SPA forum as well - not sure which forum to use!]

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Welcme to SGL TSP.

Why not use both forums (sorry Fori)?

I have a planisphere, I also have a pocket book called "The Times Night Sky", it is issued yearly because it covers the planets and moon as well for each month.

Even though I've been observing for 20 years I still get one.

Also you could have a peice of software called stellarium (or somehting similar) - other will be able to give you a link. Or if you have a few quid spare then Starry night is good.

Ant

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Hehe, I downloaded Stellarium before I posted that message, and I think it's so cool! Oh, it means that I'll need a compass to know which direction I'm facing? Do you have any other advice what I should read up on?

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If you know the direction that the sun rises in or the direction the sun sets in - then you know where north is.

As soon as you identify your first few stars you'll never ask where north is again (well not on a clear night).

Ant

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Welcome on board - so much to learn - so little time! or so it seems.

My first read on this journey before owning a scope was "Stars And Planets" by Ian Ridpath which is a Dorling Kindersley handbook at around £13. For raw recruits like thee and me it's a cracking handbook with nice planishpheres showing the variations by month and excellent descriptions of 88 constellations including the main features to look out for. It's amazing just what the naked eye can discern if you spend a couple of hours in a dark location.

Enjoy the trip....

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I want to know how would I locate Orion, Polaris, the Big Dipper in the sky? Do I need to use the planisphere? [am i correct?]

Hi There, and welcome!

You do not actually need a planisphere - I can locate most constellations and I have never used one, although I can see why they are useful.

If you want to locate polaris and the big dipper, go out next time the sky is clear, and look North - West (you would need a compas)

If you lookup fairly high, you will be able to see the 7 bright stars which make up the plough, and if you look to the right and above of the rightmost star, you will find polaris. It would be useful to download stellarium to figure out the shapes and how high up they will be.

To find Orion, you should look outside during January, to the south, and you will see the Three bright stars in a line which are unmissable. After you locate these, you can start to find Rigel and other stars which make up the constellation. Again looking at Stellarium will be useful!

I would recommend you read some of the books mentioned, and wish you the best of luck! :)

Remy

P.S I have attached a photo showing you how to locate polaris. I made it using Paint. :D

1009_thumbnail.jpeg

(click to enlarge)

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I would get a planisphere, or at least a current issue of any of the astronomy magazines, which have star charts in them for the current evening hours. Trust the charts; the constellations do look like the diagrams on the chart. It is possible to be mistaken about things, you will often be mistaken as you start out. You will identify Sagittarius this year, and have to teach it to yourself again next year. It takes time. If you are in poor (Light Polluted) skies, you will likely not be able to see Cancer or Ophiuchus, and great parts of other constellations. Learn them by their bright stars.

Persevere. This hobby is great fun.

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Thanks for all your helpful replies! The weather in Northern Ireland is not too good at the moment - everyday it has been cloudy so I haven't had a chance looking for constellations....yet.

so much to learn - so little time! or so it seems.

It's amazing just what the naked eye can discern if you spend a couple of hours in a dark location.

Enjoy the trip....

I agree, I don't think it would be a great idea investing in a telescope when I barely know what I am looking for - better learn the basics first.I don't think I would like to buy a telescope at the moment, I would like to practise using the unaided eye. But I have to admit I don't really know what to do next. The next there are clear skies, I'll definitely try and look out for Polaris and the Big Dipper. Yesterday I made one of those print-off Planispheres and compared to Stellarium and hehe most of the time I got them both correct.

To find Orion, you should look outside during January, to the south, and you will see the Three bright stars in a line which are unmissable. After you locate these, you can start to find Rigel and other stars which make up the constellation. Again looking at Stellarium will be useful!

P.S I have attached a photo showing you how to locate polaris. I made it using Paint. :D

Thanks for your drawing :) An member on the SPA forum was saying that Orion is a "winter months constellation", could you explain to me why that is? I haven't got the general gist of where constellations are actually positioned...I'm not sure what to do next but I'll google up Rigel to see what it looks like.

Many thanks for all your replies

tsp_uk

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Every 24 hours, the earth rotates so you get night and day... but on top of that, the earth of moving around the sun, so the dark side of the earth points outwards to a slightly different place each day. Over the course of the year, the outwards facing side of the earth has completed one revolution around the sun. Orion is best seen during the winter months because that is where the night side of the earth is pointing at that time of the year.

Or am I talking rubbish again? :D

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Every 24 hours, the earth rotates so you get night and day... but on top of that, the earth of moving around the sun, so the dark side of the earth points outwards to a slightly different place each day. Over the course of the year, the outwards facing side of the earth has completed one revolution around the sun. Orion is best seen during the winter months because that is where the night side of the earth is pointing at that time of the year.

Or am I talking rubbish again? :D

I was under the impression that the earth does 1 full rotation every 23 hours 56 minutes. As we round it up to 24 hours each day, what happens is that celestial objects rise above the horizon 4 minutes earlier each day. So, over the course of time everything moves across the sky. This also explains why we have a leap year with 1 extra day every 4 years.

Or am I talking rubbish too? :)

Tony..

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No! You are talking sense!

Thanks for making me realise why the stars rise 4 minutes earlier each day :D

Winter constellations are ones that are seen around 10pm during winter... That's how I think of them anyway.

Could you possibly point me in the direction of the print off plainisphere?

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Remember that the sky moves 1 degree to the west every day, 15 degrees per hour, and 30 degrees per month. If something hasn't quite cleared your neighbours roof at 11:00 this week, it'll be 7 degrees above it same time next week. This fact is the origin of the saying "all things come to he who waits."

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Welcome to SGL.. :D

As Ant has said, try this...

http://www.stellarium.org/

You just need to feed it your location and the correct time....

cheers tsp_uk, for this thread, i am a complete beginner too, and have found this thread very helpful!

ive ordered a few of the books mentioned too from amazon so hopefully ill have them tomorow to learn abit more. now my question is about stellarium how do you feed it our location and correct time. the only reason i ask is it looks as if it does it for you, but im still not 100% sure.

anyhelp would be great

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Luke

Click the little spanner looking icon at the bottom of the screen. This is the basic config area. There are tabs for setting your preferences and location.

Hint, when you are on the location tab, use you mouse scroll wheel to zoom in and out of the map!

Click on the map to set your location.

Or

Enter you latitude and longitude (use GoogleEarth or Heaven Above to get them) and set them accordingly. You have to use the little up and down scrollers which is a pain TBH, but there you are!!!

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Luke

Click the little spanner looking icon at the bottom of the screen. This is the basic config area. There are tabs for setting your preferences and location.

Hint, when you are on the location tab, use you mouse scroll wheel to zoom in and out of the map!

Click on the map to set your location.

Or

Enter you latitude and longitude (use GoogleEarth or Heaven Above to get them) and set them accordingly. You have to use the little up and down scrollers which is a pain TBH, but there you are!!!

thanks alot Daz!

that was perfect, and cheers for the tip, works much easier!

thanks

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