Download No Slide Title

Constellation –
Sky Familiarization
Objectives

Learn sky navigation using the SC-1 Star Chart


Locate the meridian, horizons, and zenith for a given
date and time.
Use the star chart to locate stars and constellations in
the night sky.
Nacogdoches View
32
Zenith
o
CE
NCP
32o
West
North
South
East
SCP
The stars visible, at any given time, continuously changes.
This a result of the Earth’s motion, rotation and revolution.
North
Ecliptic
East
Sun’s Path
Celestial Equator
Declination (degrees)
Right Ascension (hours)
South
Find the position of the star Sirius
East
North
RA = 6h 45m
DEC = -17d
South
March 22 @ 8:00 p.m
North
East
Zenith
West Point
Meridian
South
March 22 @ 8:00 p.m
East Point
March 22 @ 8:00 p.m
North
East
Zenith
West Point
Meridian
South
March 22 @ 9:00 p.m
North
East
Zenith
West Point
South
Meridian
West Horizon
March 22 @ 10:00 p.m
North
East
Zenith
West Point
South
Meridian
West Horizon
January 10 @ 8:00 p.m
East
North
5 days X 4 min/day=20 min
January 5 @ 8 pm
January 10 @ 8 pm
Sky Familiarization

A Few Things to Remember




The NCP is located above the north point on the
horizon. The angular distance is equal to your latitude.
The zenith is located an angular distance equal to your
latitude from the CE, i.e., the declination of the zenith
is your latitude.
Any vertical line on your SC-1 (north-south) is a
meridian.
Approximately one half of the stars on the SC-1 are
visible at any given time (12 hours of RA).