right ascension

Hey.

Try as I might, I haven't been able to find out how to find a star if you know it's right ascension.
I have no problem with Dec,so am looking at the right angle, but not knowing which direction to point is driving me crazy!!!

Could someone please explain it to me and give me an example?
For instance, if I am looking directly south at 22:00, what is the line of right ascension that I am seeing? (I live at 3 dgerees west)

Thanks alot.

Jay

BTW. I am using binoculars and sometimes a friend's Dob so I can't just turn a setting circle dial

Hey.

Try as I might, I haven't been able to find out how to find a star if you know it's right ascension.
I have no problem with Dec,so am looking at the right angle, but not knowing which direction to point is driving me crazy!!!

Could someone please explain it to me and give me an example?
For instance, if I am looking directly south at 22:00, what is the line of right ascension that I am seeing? (I live at 3 dgerees west)

Thanks alot.

Jay

BTW. I am using binoculars and sometimes a friend's Dob so I can't just turn a setting circle dial

You can't really do these kinds of calculations in your head so my advice would be to get a planisphere or to use a software package like Cartes Du Ciel for Windows or KStars on Linux or the Mac. Whether you use a planisphere or softwar you just have to set the time and date (and your location in the case of the software) and you can read the RA and DEC off a grid. In the case of the software you can see both an RA/Dec and an Alt/Az grid at the same time so you can see what RA/DEC is at any point in the sky.

Hope that helps,

Bart.

I have Starry Night and enjoy to use it, but I don't take a laptop out when I'm observing so it's no good.





Is there no formula for it?

I have Starry Night and enjoy to use it, but I don't take a laptop out when I'm observing so it's no good.





Is there no formula for it?

There is but it's not something you'd do in your head! ( www.stargazing.net/kepler/altaz.html )

If you need something to take out under the stars then you can either print a map from something like Cartes du Ciel or Starry Night or, a more environmentally friendly option would be to get a planispehere.

Bart.

Cheers

I guess I'm stuck with Sky&Telescope maps for the time being until I get an EQ mount

Especially since you are using binos and a dob you probably don't have to worry to much about right ascension when trying to find stars/objects.

Probably easier to use concellations and star hop.

Just my thoughts, Damon