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Transcript
North Celestial Pole Altitude of Polaris is equal to our Latitude on Earth
Proof:
Angle Pole Star with the horizon = observer's
latitude.
Prove: Angle c = Angle d
Altitude of Polaris = our latitude on earth
Given: The pole and the equator are at right
angles,
d + a = 90 therefore a = 90 – d
c = b (AIT Alternate Interior Angles because c || b)
a + b + 90 = 180
(sum angles of triangle)
Therefore:
a + b = 90
Substitute for a:
(90 – d) + b = 90
Angle b = Angle d and angle c = b
Therefore Angle c = Angle d
Angle d = Latitude
We find Polaris at our latitude
Roughly 45 degrees north
Angle c = Angle d ~ 45 deg here
Angle c = Altitude Polaris
Star Location: Altitude above Horizon
Star altitude depends on the Declination of
the Star. The altitude of any star
transiting due South on the MERIDIAN
Altitude of Star above Horizon = Co-latitude
on Earth + Declination of Star
Celestial Equator
co-latitude
Declination ALWAYS measured from celestial equator to star.
Due South
Local Horizon View:
Altitude
of Regulus above our horizon =
45(Colatitude) + 11(Declination) = 56
deg
Objects on your Meridian
North South Line Horizon to Horizon
OBJECTS (stars, clusters, galaxies) in the sky
- Left(east) of your Meridian … RISING
- Right(west) of
Meridian … SETTING,
just like the Sun does .
Objects ON your Meridian have reached
their HIGHEST point in the sky tonight,
Best for Viewing = CULMINATION
For Northern Hemisphere observers
Objects CULMINATE on the Meridian
Facing SOUTH.
Observers in the Northern Hemisphere
orient their observatories Facing SOUTH
Because there is a larger surface area of
celestial sphere ( i.e the band of sky )from
the north pole to the southern horizon
then from the north pole to the northern
horizon. Diagram shows more sky looking
south for northern observer.
http://calgary.rasc.ca/radecl.htm#ra
Star on Meridian
Position of a Celestial Object on our Meridian
Range of Celestial Declination of
object visible on our meridian
Given
Altitude of the Pole = Latitude
Altitude of Celestial Equator = Colatitude
Diagram shows Latitude 40
- 50
Northern Horizon
Declination =
+50
90 – lat = Colat = +50
Zenith:
Declination = 90 – Colat = Lat = 40
Southern Horizon:
Declination =
180 – (Lat + 90) = 90 – Lat = - 50
Angle is negative because it is measured
down from 0 declination in the sky.
For 45 degrees , latitude = Colatitiude
We see +45 to -45 declination.
Example: How high does LMC rise above the horizon of Point Pelee National Park (if at all)?
Latitude: Point Pelee
- 41°57′51″N
Southernmost point in
Canada
Large Magellenic Cloud
Declination: -
-69° 45′ 22″
Visible as a faint "cloud" in the night sky of the
southern hemisphere straddling the border
between the constellations of Dorado and
Mensa.
1. We know altitude of Pole Star = your Latitude.
2. Celestial Equator is thus 90 – Latitude = 50.
Therefore Maximum Southern declination
visible is -50 degrees.
No, LMC will never rise above Point Pelee.
(and no, we don't see constellations Dorado and Mensa)
North Celestial Pole Altitude of Polaris is equal to our Latitude on Earth
Proof:
Angle Pole Star with the horizon = observer's
latitude.
Prove: Angle c = Angle d
Altitude of Polaris = our latitude on earth
Given: The pole and the equator are at right
angles,
d + a = 90 therefore a = 90 – d
c = b (AIT Alternate Interior Angles because c || b)
a + b + 90 = 180
(sum angles of triangle)
Therefore:
a + b = 90
Substitute for a:
(90 – d) + b = 90
Angle b = Angle d and angle c = b
Therefore Angle c = Angle d
Angle d = Latitude
We find Polaris at our latitude
Roughly 45 degrees north
Angle c = Angle d ~ 45 deg here
Angle c = Altitude Polaris
Star Location: Altitude above Horizon
Star altitude depends on the Declination of
the Star. The altitude of any star
transiting due South on the MERIDIAN
Altitude of Star above Horizon = Co-latitude
on Earth + Declination of Star
Celestial Equator
co-latitude
Due South
Declination ALWAYS measured from celestial
equator to star.
Local Horizon View:
Altitude
of Regulus above our horizon =
45(Colatitude) + 11(Declination) = 56
deg
Declination
Remember Declination is always measured from the celestial equator to the
object.
Note: If the star is north of the zenith (i.e. the angle measured from the
celestial equator to the zenith > latitude, say 50 deg, then Alt = 90 + (Phi +
Dec) rather than (90 – Phi) + Dec
Alt = 90 +
Our Observing Latitude determines what celestial objects are seen above our local horizon
For our location at 45 degrees latitude, the pole star is at altitude
45 degrees . We can see that when we look up.
The altitude of Polaris above the horizon is the same as the observer's latitude.
I
Objects on your Meridian
North South Line Horizon to Horizon
OBJECTS (stars, clusters, galaxies) in the sky
- Left(east) of your Meridian … RISING
- Right(west) of
Meridian … SETTING,
just like the Sun does .
Objects ON your Meridian have reached
their HIGHEST point in the sky tonight,
Best for Viewing = CULMINATION
For Northern Hemisphere observers
Objects CULMINATE on the Meridian
Facing SOUTH.
Observers in the Northern Hemisphere
orient their observatories Facing SOUTH
Because there is a larger surface area of
celestial sphere ( i.e the band of sky )from
the north pole to the southern horizon
then from the north pole to the northern
horizon. Diagram shows more sky looking
south for northern observer.
http://calgary.rasc.ca/radecl.htm#ra
Star on Meridian
Position of a Celestial Object on our Meridian
Range of Celestial Declination of
object visible on our meridian
Given
Altitude of the Pole = Latitude
Altitude of Celestial Equator = Colatitude
Diagram shows Latitude 40
- 50
Northern Horizon
Declination =
+50
90 – lat = Colat = +50
Zenith:
Declination = 90 – Colat = Lat = 40
Southern Horizon:
Declination =
180 – (Lat + 90) = 90 – Lat = - 50
Angle is negative because it is measured
down from 0 declination in the sky.
For 45 degrees , latitude = Colatitiude
We see +45 to -45 declination.
Example: How high does LMC rise above the horizon of Point Pelee National Park (if at all)?
Latitude: Point Pelee
- 41°57′51″N
Southernmost point in
Canada
Large Magellenic Cloud
Declination: -
-69° 45′ 22″
Visible as a faint "cloud" in the night sky of the
southern hemisphere straddling the border
between the constellations of Dorado and
Mensa.
1. We know altitude of Pole Star = your Latitude.
2. Celestial Equator is thus 90 – Latitude = 50.
Therefore Maximum Southern declination
visible is -50 degrees.
No, LMC will never rise above Point Pelee.
(and no, we don't see constellations Dorado and Mensa)