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Confused about alt and az?

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  • 16-06-2010 11:21am
    #1
    the quick fix
    Registered Users Posts: 23 ✭


    Hey guys, I need some help!
    Im a complete beginner astronomer - I downloaded stellarium, and after reading the observing for beginners thread I decided to try use the alt and az coordinates for the moon with dublin as the location - and it didnt match up where the telescope was pointing. Ive set the latitude on the telescope to 53 degrees. Am I missing something? Im using a celestron 90eqmd.
    Also - using stellarium, what piece of information tells me when an object crosses my set up field of view?
    On the celestron, on the declination setting circle - how do you pick the angle as it reads 0-90 right to left and left to right - which do I pick?



    Really appreciate the help!


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    #2
    slade_x
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 1,425 Mod ✭✭✭✭slade_x


    the quick fix wrote: »
    Am I missing something? Im using a celestron 90eqmd.

    Im not exactly sure what you are trying to do, are you trying to convert alt azimuth co ordinate system into equatorial?
    the quick fix wrote: »
    Also - using stellarium, what piece of information tells me when an object crosses my set up field of view?

    as far as i am aware stellarium displays both RA and Dec coordinates along with alt and azimuth coordinates. you need to have both co ordinates in either coordinate system to have something in your viewfinder, much like the lines of lat and long, in that case one or the other is useless on their own.
    the quick fix wrote: »
    On the celestron, on the declination setting circle - how do you pick the angle as it reads 0-90 right to left and left to right - which do I pick?

    Declination if its positive is in the northern hemisphere of our celestial sphere (between celestial equator and north pole = 0 to +90) 0 is the equator +90 degrees is the north pole, if its negative its below (0 to -90) so negative is the south pole

    if you are confused about the use of equatorial system you may find the following helpful:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equatorial_coordinate_system


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    #3
    the quick fix
    Registered Users Posts: 23 ✭the quick fix


    Thank you very much for the help. I have a much better understanding now of the telescope now. I know now that I have to find polaris as it is a few degrees off north. I know which way is east and west and north, its just the house is blocking the view of polaris. So if i aimed it in the north direction, how accurate would my positioning have to be in relation to the telescope pointing at polaris for the coordinates i have to work? or would it make a big difference?


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