Looking for info on astronomical modeling

[woof]

I'm interested in studying a building which I think may have numerous astronomical alignments built into it. I'm wondering if it is possible (and who does such stuff) to make a computer model of the building and it's location, and then virtually determine whether x, y or z alignment is indeed present. I'd like to ask some Qs of anyone who knows how to do such work, or knows someone who does, or can give me any other leads.

Thanks in advance! Lynn

[brantuk]

Hi Lynn and welcome to SGL

Unfortunately I doubt you'll get many answers in this forum on that subject . Our primary interest here is in the science of astronomy and stargazing with telescope equipment. You might get lucky but I'm not optimistic.

Otherwise, I wish you well in your quest.

[Watcher]

I'm not sure I fully understand the question, do you mean you are looking for a building like that or you have found one?

[woof]

There are many buildings like that, with alignments. I'm wondering who builds computer models that can basically say - here is building x in its actual location. Now let's look at it on the winter solstice at 9am and see where the light from the east windown strikes the opposite wall. and many others

I know people into astronomy know of such models, I just need a lead

[davo]

Stonehenge?

[E621Keith]

Ancient observatories? Stonehenge, Machu Picchu, ...

Do you mean some how superimpose the inside of your house on to the backdrop of a planetarium software. Like on Stellarium, rather than choosing a farm, ocean, or Mars as the backdrop, you want an option that will allow you to choose the inside of a house?

[FraserClarke]

You'd need a accurate model of the building first, so probably the best person to talk to is a surveyor. Once you know where your points of interest are in 3d, you could work out the angles between them and convert that to an Altitude and Azimuth on the sky. From there, it would be relatively easy to use a planetarium programme (Stellarium is very popular here, and free) to work out what would be at that Altitude/Azimuth at a given time on a given date. Depending on how far back/forward in time you want to go, the more you'll have to worry about the accuracy of the information in the planetarium programme. A few hundred years will be fine. A few thousand years and you'll need to worry if it includes precession/nutation/proper motions etc.

But, the first step I would suggest is to find someone who can measure your building and work out where your points of interest are in 3d space.