Stars - location aid - 1 pdf attached
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William Bottaci
Sep 18, 2025, 3:51:56 PMSep 18
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The purpose of the attached pdf file serves several, but mostly as a resource, in particular in identifying and learning the position of stars. This aids:
- knowledge and learning, to also pass on to visitors at our observatory (outreach);
- support of a previous talk on celestial navigation, knowing the position of many of the so-called navigation stars;
- the requirement to know the location of objects when using Goto telescopes.
This last one prompted me to form the aid, when it seemed that telescopes with a Goto facility have the shortcoming in requiring to know the location of the alignment stars, and experience showed it was a hurdle where many gave up and sold their telescopes - the Goto facility first requires setting up before it becomes functional.
This file has first the list of stars and then their location on a map. It is interactive in that selecting the red 'Chart' number takes you directly to that map, with only the listed stars circled in red.
In the field it can be opened on a mobile or tablet, with any app where the links work, and on this probably all browsers, but be aware that not all pdf reader apps allow links. If one reader does not work then you'll need to choose another, but it won't be that the file is faulty though it may look like it.
I made this several years ago when I first bought a Goto mount; not sure why I didn't share it then.
Only stars visible from UK latitude and not all alignment stars so just skip any not on the list; I consider these sufficient. Purposely chosen to be only the bright ones, and distributed.
I ought to credit or acknowledge where I sourced the maps but I've since been unable to find them again - apologies to the unknown but eternally grateful.
Future improvements:
This still does not show where in the sky the star is, nor in relation to the greater sky though it's better than nothing, but it does encourage learning the position of the constellations which is a lot easier, and then you're there. I made something that helps with direction but it's on a spreadsheet - not for everyone - though I have an idea to make it friendlier.
I could do the same as this file except using a one-page all-sky map, just to set the scene, and it may be good enough on its own because one only needs to know where the alignment star is, sufficient to point the telescope to, and likely to be the brightest star in that direction.
Alternatives:
These days, a mobile app. One such is SkEye where you can type in the star name and it'll point the way. There are other planetarium type apps though I consider SkEye way above the others (shame it's only on Android). However, for the purpose of simply knowing where your alignment star is, they're all plenty good.
William
=_1e_AlignmentStars_Bright_Links_07_Rectangles_04_MS.pdf (1,528K)=
- knowledge and learning, to also pass on to visitors at our observatory (outreach);
- support of a previous talk on celestial navigation, knowing the position of many of the so-called navigation stars;
- the requirement to know the location of objects when using Goto telescopes.
This last one prompted me to form the aid, when it seemed that telescopes with a Goto facility have the shortcoming in requiring to know the location of the alignment stars, and experience showed it was a hurdle where many gave up and sold their telescopes - the Goto facility first requires setting up before it becomes functional.
This file has first the list of stars and then their location on a map. It is interactive in that selecting the red 'Chart' number takes you directly to that map, with only the listed stars circled in red.
In the field it can be opened on a mobile or tablet, with any app where the links work, and on this probably all browsers, but be aware that not all pdf reader apps allow links. If one reader does not work then you'll need to choose another, but it won't be that the file is faulty though it may look like it.
I made this several years ago when I first bought a Goto mount; not sure why I didn't share it then.
Only stars visible from UK latitude and not all alignment stars so just skip any not on the list; I consider these sufficient. Purposely chosen to be only the bright ones, and distributed.
I ought to credit or acknowledge where I sourced the maps but I've since been unable to find them again - apologies to the unknown but eternally grateful.
Future improvements:
This still does not show where in the sky the star is, nor in relation to the greater sky though it's better than nothing, but it does encourage learning the position of the constellations which is a lot easier, and then you're there. I made something that helps with direction but it's on a spreadsheet - not for everyone - though I have an idea to make it friendlier.
I could do the same as this file except using a one-page all-sky map, just to set the scene, and it may be good enough on its own because one only needs to know where the alignment star is, sufficient to point the telescope to, and likely to be the brightest star in that direction.
Alternatives:
These days, a mobile app. One such is SkEye where you can type in the star name and it'll point the way. There are other planetarium type apps though I consider SkEye way above the others (shame it's only on Android). However, for the purpose of simply knowing where your alignment star is, they're all plenty good.
William
=_1e_AlignmentStars_Bright_Links_07_Rectangles_04_MS.pdf (1,528K)=
paul stenning
Sep 19, 2025, 4:33:48 AMSep 19
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Thank you William it is very useful and i have placed it in my archives file for future use.
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