CELESTIAL ASTRONOMER.

1

• CELESTIAL ASTRONOMER.

We look at the night sky and are overwhelmed at
the mass of stars and other bodies in our
sky. During the daylight we feel comfortable
because we can recognize and have understanding
of the general movement of the SUN and moon. Many
years ago with no city lights, the stars seemed
brighter at night and stars were studied and
visualized as familiar figures. These figures,
pictures, are known as constellations, with given
names and shapes, people gave names to the
constellation groups and to the individual
stars. Constellations are the way that many learn
about the sky and help as a memory aid to the
stars that form the figures, the constellations
did organize this endless wonder, our sky. As
scientist looked longer at our sky they
categorized stars and found that they could
predict their movement, making an almanac for the
past, now and the future. This makes the location
in the sky of a star possible when the
constellation is partly covered, or when only one
star is visible. Finding one single star is not
difficult. If two friends are looking at the sky,
and one was an astronomer, it would be easy for
the astronomer to locate a star and point to it
so that you could see it and know the name. But!
If you were not together, instead linked to a
telephone, the astronomer would have to explain
the star location by a system, of direction and
height above the horizon.
Intro 1. ASTRONOMER.
2
d
V, North 000

• THE HORIZON System. (See figure Your
  Horizon . Numbers are places to look.) gt
• The Astronomer could describe the NORTH STAR as
  1. Look NORTH and (your LATITUDE) 35 degrees
  above your horizon. He could say look eastward
  or 2.) 055 at 40 degrees high for another
  3. Look westward at 260 and 20 degrees high
  for another star. With little practice you can
  section off and locate areas of the sky for easy
  star identity. Without the Astronomer to give
  direction and height you need the Celestial
  ASTRONOMER to take his place.
• After dark, while out side, you can find the
  North star or use a compass to find a close to
  North direction. After some practice you can
  section off your sky in to bearings and altitude.
  Let North be at 12 o'clock, the hour hand of the
  clock hours gives 30 degree sections of bearing
  around horizon.
• The altitude at the horizon, looking straight
  ahead is zero. Ninety degrees is overhead, You
  can use the hour hand for altitude, over head 12
  o'clock down to your horizon at 3 o'clock and
  zero altitude, this will help sectioning your sky.

Your Horizon Your Sky
lt1North 35degrees your Latitude.
2 055_at_ 40
ltE 090
lt W 270
ltYou
3 260_at_20
S V 180
Intro 2.
3

• Understanding PARTS of the
• CELESTRIAL
  ASTRONOMER 1.BASE DISK.
• The purpose of the BASE DISK is to interact and
  supply information to other disk.
  
  
• Description (opaque and circular.) The BASE DISK
  is approximately nine inches in diameter. The
  BASE DISK is of a bird eye view of the NORTH
  hemisphere with the WEST to the left and the EAST
  hemisphere to the right.
• A pin in the center (that all other disk can
  rotate on) contains the earth as a molecule that
  projects into far outer space useful information
  on its outer rims in terms of
• 1. DEGREES labeled every ten from zero to 360
  that are used for LONGITUDE. (LONG.)
• The same DEGREES are used for GREENWICH HOUR
  ANGLE (GHA) and SIDEREAL
• HOURS ANGLE (SHA.) (Used for Celestial Bodies.)
• 2. MONTHS of the YEAR. With the days of the
  month, each day equals one degree.
• 3. GREENWICH MEAN TIME (GMT) and Time ZONES. With
  1200 military time at Greenwich England Zero
  Longitude and each of 24 time zones of 15 degrees
  for the complete 24 hours day.
• The Base Disk will enable interaction reading of
  between degrees, Time of the year, ( month and
  day) and time of the day, ( hour and minuets.)

24
PBD 3
4
Parts Base Disk.

• Information on the Base Disk Rim. See drawinggt
• 1. LONG is measured from zero degrees East and
  West to180 degrees (for your position.)
• 2. GHA and SHA are measured from zero degrees to
  360 (CW) westward only (Used for celestial
  positions)
• 3. Dates on the rim Months and days Measure,
  NOV. 4 days/ degrees is NOV 4th.
• 4. Greenwich Time is the Time on the rim. To read
  Time on the rim 14 hours 14 degrees equals, 14
  hours and 56 minutes.
• (There are 60 minutes to one hour. There are 15
  degrees to one hour 15/604min per degree.)
• Read/Interact on the disk NOV 9th1516 and
  Long, GHASHA 49 degrees.
• In order to read Your wall clock and convert to
  GMT time on the rim, read ZONE DESCRIPTION
  below.
• Zone Description, to convert your Local Clock to
  Greenwich Mean Time as read on the Rim.
• Zone Description (ZD) is the difference between
  1200 at Greenwich England and your Longitude.
• Example 50W on the rim is closest to 15 and is
  3 hours from Greenwich(12) Zone Description is
  3.
• Your LONGITUDE is 50W your local clock reads
  0602 ZD is 3. In order to change you local time
  on your clock to The rim Greenwich Mean Time,
  (GMT) you must add ZD. 06 02 3GMT is 0902 In
  order to change GMT to LOCAL TIME, reverse the
  sign and add. GMT 0902 ZD0602 is Local Mean
  Time.

month
1 Hour
Longitude WE
4
2
3
2 GHA SHA360
West 180 1
East 180
1Longitude
Nov 91516 49W
pbd4
5
Horizon Disk.

• PARTS.
• Celestial ASTRONOMER
  HORIZON DISK.
  
• The purpose is to project your position and
  horizon (sky) in to outer space and to grid your
  sky in to bearings and altitude. (This will
  enable you to read the Horizon system and go out
  side to locate stars.)
• Description Opaque. There are nine Horizon disks
  that range from 05 North just above the equator
  to 85 North (N) near the pole, they are back to
  back, making 5 disk. Each of the nine Horizons
  has a different shape due to latitude (LAT)
  distortion (from a round earth projected to a
  flat paper tangent to the named latitude (LAT).
  5N is oblong and 85N is a circle. 1 35N
• Detail Each of the nine Horizon Disk are labeled
  with the Lat. that it was projected from.
• You use the LAT. nearest to your known LAT.
  position. You put the disk on the BASE DISK pin
  and rotate the LONGITUDE (LONG) 2 pointer to
  your (LONG). The 3in the white center is your
  position.
• Looking N towards the pin you will see your
  horizon 90 degrees from your position bearing
  000. The bearings will increase to the right 90
  to 180 to 270 back to 000. Over your position ()
  is ninety degrees altitude from any horizon/
  bearing, with ten degree increments down to your
  Horizon of zero. Any celestial body that enters
  this grid can be read off, bearing and altitude.
  Each of the disks are read in the same way.
  

1
1 35N
35N
3 YOU
lt2Long pointer
2 LONG Pointer
HD 5. Horizon System Disk
6

• PARTS
• CELESTRIAL ASTRONOMER STAR DISK
  
  Transparent.
• The purpose to lock named stars and other
  celestial bodies together as to read/ interact
  with the BASE DISK and HORIZON DISK.
• Details Transparent and circular. The Star Disk
  has one pointer. Called ARIES.1
• ARIES controls all stars and bodies on the disk,
  as ARIES pointer rotates around the Months, days
  Hours, minutes and degrees on the BASE DISK so
  will all bodies rotate.
• The EARTH EQUATOR and the CELESTRIAL EQUATOR are
  projected into outer space midway from the center
  to the rim. All bodies are either NORTH
  declination (DEC) (ABOVE) or SOUTH DEC. (BELOW)
  the CELESTIAL EQUATOR.
• ( Declination is the same as Latitude.)
• The Base Disk will supply the correct placement
  of Aries on the Base Disk so that the Horizon
  Disk grid can be used to read the Bearing
  Altitude of bodies on the star disk.

SD 6 1 Aries
7
STARS
Putting the Parts to work.

• ASTRONOMER Instructions
• Set up.
• STARS. Numbers are, go to places on the Star
  Diagram.
• 1. Place the HORIZON SYSTEM DISK (HSD) ON the
  BASE DISK (BD).
• Use the LATITUDE (LAT) nearest to your LAT. (05N)
  1
• 2. Rotate the HSD arrow to your LONGITUDE
  (LONG), (CW to West Hemisphere) (75W) 2 this is
  your position at the center of the HSD
  represented by. 3
• You can now read any body that enters in-to the
  Grid in terms of bearing and altitude.

3
2 75W
1
S 7
8
STARS

• Numbers are Places on the diagram.
• Example
• LAT. 05 North.
• LONG.75
• 3. Find the Month JUNE and count 11 degrees ,CW
  towards July, for 11 days on the BD. rim, read
  the time (GMT) of 520. 3 (This is for the
  first minute after midnight. JUNE 11.) Each
  degree one day and also 4 minutes of time.
• Date 11 June 0000. 0520
• 4. Decide when you want to observe the stars,
  perhaps 1000 GMT. ADD GMT 520 and GMT 1000 for
  1520 GMT.4 this will be the correct place for
  ARIES, for your observation at 1000 GMT
• Observe GMT. 1000
  
• June 11 0520 1000
• GMT1520
• 5. Place the STAR DISK on the HSD and rotate the
  ARIES (V) arrow to 1520 5 on the outer rim of
  the BASE DISK.
• 6. The sky is now set for your position and 1000
  GMT to List and observe your stars.

June
11
3
3 0520
11 degreesdays
July
45 1520
V
S 8.
9
STARS
Make a list.

• Numbers are Places on the diagram.
• Star List
• 5 Aries 1520
• Stars, Name Alt Bearing
  
  1.Schedar 32 022 2.Alpheratz 55
  043
• 3. Diphda 48 125
  F 4.Formallhaut 54 167

1
2
4
2
4
.
5
3
Aries
1520 5.Your 1000 OBS
S 9.
10
STARS

• Star finding. Unique, How it works
• The ASTRONOMER uses the Base Disk outer rim, and
  other Disk to solve difficult problems. For Star
  Identity, the Base Disk, Horizon Disk and the
  Star Disk are used.
• The Eternal Almanac for Aries (Months Days) on
  the rim simplifies and eliminates the need for an
  Almanac and the computation of figures and
  formulas on paper. The Eternal Almanacs on the
  BD, Aries months are equal in degrees to the
  start of the same month in the almanac. Each of
  the degrees, days on the BD, after the month is
  equal to each day reading in the almanac at 00
  Greenwich Mean Time for that day. .
• By reading the GMT on the ASTRONOMER Base Disk
  for the Month and day 11 June as 0520 you are
  selecting 00 minutes GMT of the day 11 June for
  Aries as if you read that same month and day out
  of the Almanac in degrees. Since you are working
  in GMT, you can conveniently add your desired
  observation time directly, 1000 GMT of desired
  observation time to the 00 minutes for 11 June
  time 0520 to place the Aries pointer on the GMT
  of 1520 on the BD. This easy procedure will
  give you the same answer as if you worked the
  difficult paper formula using the Almanac. The
  GMT 1520 is now equal to GMT of 1000 on 11
  June.
• Another advantage of the GMT on the rim is you
  can work forward in observation time to see how
  the bodies moves in relation to your position on
  earth, as time increases. Also, you can quickly
  catch any mistake, the complete problem is
  visible 0n the ASTRONOMER.

S 10. Note (Later) See GMT LMT to convert to
Local Time.
11

• CELESTIAL ASTRONOMER PARTS.
• 
  TRANSFER ARM.
• The purpose of the TRANSFER ARM is to transfer
  planets and other celestial bodies on the STAR
  DISK. It can also be used to solve Great Circle
  problems.
• Description transparent and circular. The
  TRANSFER ARM is a disk split in half with a
  pointer at each rim. The CELESTIAL EQUATOR
  circles the pole (pin.)
• The split pointer line intersects the equator at
  zero declination/and projected earths zero
  latitude.
• The top pointer line runs from the celestial
  Equator to 90 degrees north at the pole, to 90
  degrees south at the south pole. The lower
  pointer, runs from the equator to 30 degrees
  north and south and is cut with a slot wide
  enough to insert a marker through to the STAR
  DISK to add Planets or stars.
• T11.

V
CELESTRAL EQUATOR _at_ zero 90 V
NS Declination
Pole Center Pin
Slot gt, zero to 30 degrees N S
V
12

• PLANET OTHER BODIES
• ASTRONOMER Instructions.
• Numbers are places to go to on the Diagram.
• Adding Planets, Sun Moon or other bodies to the
  STAR DISK.
• Using the an ALMANAC for the Year, Month, Day and
  GREENWITCH TIME desired. Write the Greenwich Hour
  Angle (GHA) and Declination (DEC).of desired
  bodies on a paper.
• Example.
• June 11 1500 GMT Venus is GHA 43 DEC S 14 Mar
  is 129 DEC S 10
• Jupiters GHA is 170 DEC S17 (Round of to
  nearest degree.)
• Place the star Disk on to the Base Disk and point
  the pointer to Zero LONG. 1 leave it there.
• Place the TRANSFER ARM on the Star Disk.
• Move the pointer on the Transfer Arm to each
  Planets GHA of the 360 degrees on the rim 2
  for each of the Planets, through the slot place a
  grease mark at the DEC. and the body name.
  Planets wander among the stars, but this position
  can be used for about one week.
• Stars can be permanently added in the same
  manner using SHA as GHA and DEC. Greater than 30
  degrees (out side of the slot) use the other side
  DEC 180 degrees, lift the ARM and mark the first
  letter of the planets on the Star Disk for
  identification.
• The Sun and moon also move among the stars, they
  can be placed on the star disk for a short period
  of time. Using their GHA and DEC.

ltslot Declination
2
V GHA 43 S14
lt Arm Slot pointer
v
ARIES
1. 0 Long.
Your local library may have This years
ALMANAC. The internet http//aa.usno Navy.mil/da
ta has GHA of Planets and other bodies.
P 21.
13
2007

• SUN MOON
• ASTRONOMER Instructions.
• Set up using the NAUTICAL ALMANAC
• Numbers are places to go to on the Diagram.
• Adding Sun, or Moon to the STAR DISK.
• Using the NAUTICAL ALMANAC for the Year, Month,
  Day and GREENWITCH TIME. Write the Greenwich Hour
  Angle (GHA) and Declination (DEC).of the SUN or
  MOON to the nearest whole degree.)
• Enter the Almanac for the day desired. Look on
  the almanac for ARIES and the closes to Zero
  degrees (558.7 at 09) and the Time in whole
  hours. Write them on a paper, (09, Time and whole
  degrees for GHA DEC.)
• SUN or Moon as desired.
• Example , Year 2007, Month Day May 13, Aries
  GMT 0900 1GHA 6. with the 2 SUN GHA 316, DEC
  N18, MOON 180 S 8 SEE fig. 1.
• Place the star Disk on to the Base Disk and point
  the pointer to GHA 6 Degrees, . 1
• Place the TRANSFER ARM on the Star Disk.
• Move the pointer on the Transfer Arm to the SUNS
  GHA 2 316 and mark with a grease pencil the DEC
  of N18 if desired mark the MOON at GHA180 and
  DEC.S8.
• The Sun and moon also move among the stars, the
  Sun can be used for a time, but the MOON will
  move out of position daily.

1
2
1
2
O SUN
2
P21A
14
SUN RISE/SET
ASTRONOMER. INSTRUCTIONS 3 Disks are used, the
Base Disk, The Family of horizons and the
Transfer Arm. The Base disk carries information,
Greenwich Mean Time LONGITUDE on the rim. The
Family of Horizons Disk carries a 1. LONG.
pointer, and the image of 10 Latitude horizons
2. with a Declination Design 3. The DEC
Design is the suns path in dots labeled in
letters, for each month. of the year. The
Transfer Arm with a slot 4. (30 degrees NS)
ending with a pointer 5. for reading (GMT) time
of the Base Disk. Next
Numbers are Places on the diagram.
3
2
1
2
Long 1.
4 .gt
5
S12.
15
ASTRONOMER Instructions.
Sun Rise / Set.
Numbers are Places on the diagram. Place the
Family of Horizons on the Base Disk and rotate
the Longitude pointer to your Longitude.72W
1. Find your Latitude on the Family of LAT 2.
(interpolate if you are between the LATs.)
( This is your LONG 72Wgt Your LAT will be 35N.)
35N
35N
2
Horizons
1. 72W
2
35N
S 13.
16
Sun Rise/ Sun Set
Numbers are Places on the diagram. Place the
Transfer Arm on the Family of Horizons and rotate
the Slot 1. to the DECLINATION DIAGRAM 2.
Each Month has dots that represents months of
the year. For the Month and day desired,
interpolate between the dots for the Day and
mark, with a grease pencil a mock sun on the slot
inline with the pointer 3. Mock SUN between
A.S. Date AUG 06 on the DEC DIAGRAM Month and
day place, Mock Sun
1 Arm after rotation
2
3
Horizons
2
3
S 14.
17
SUN RISE
Numbers are Places on the diagram. Rotate the
mock sun AUG. 06 on the Transfer Arm toward the
Rise Family of Horizons. Continue until the sun
touches your Horizon at Latitude 35N ,as sun
rise would actually do 1. Read the time of
occurrence on the outer rim of the Base Disk
using the slot pointer. 2. The time is for
Greenwich Mean Time and is 10 2 degrees Each
degree is 4 minuets of time. Sunrise is 1008
GMT.
AUG. 06
35N
35N.
1
2
1
S 15.
1 slot
18
SUN SET. V2356
2. 2356 GMT
2
Numbers are Places on the diagram. Continue
Rotating the mock sun AUG. 06 on the Transfer
Arm toward Sun Set. With the Sun touching the 35N
Horizon, 1. read the GMT Time off the Base
Disk as 23 and 14 degrees 2. Convert Degrees as
Time 56 minutes. Sun Set is 2356 GMT Note see
GMT to LMT to convert to Local Time.

Slot
Dec. Design
1
S 16.
19
GREAT CIRCLE ASTRONOMER Instruction. Numbers
are Places on the diagram.
GREAT CIRCLE. To find the course or bearing and
shortest distance between two places on our round
earth you need to find the GREAT CIRCLE (GC) that
runs between the two places See 2. and
4. This GC bearing is also the direction that
is needed for a directional antenna for best
signal.
GC
G 17.
20
Place the HORIZON SYSTEM DISK (HSD) on the BASE
DISK (BD.)
1
Instructions.
Numbers are Places on the diagram. The Horizon
Disk closest to the know Latitude 35N 1. Is
placed on the Base Disk and the Longitude Arrow
is rotated to the Longitude of you the
observer. This is your LAT 35N Long 72W 2.
You Next Place the
Transfer arm on the Horizon Disk and rotate the
180 degree pointer to your destination of LONG
06W 3. and mark with a grease pencil at 36 N
4. along the pointer latitude line. This is the
LAT LONG of the destination 4. 06W 36N.
you
90 Lat Line 36N Long Pointer
Des 4
3
G 18.
2
21
Course and Distance.
Numbers are Places on the diagram. The Course
and distance is from the center 2 to the
destination dot at 4. The Great Circle Course
is 069. Note. The ALTITUDE is 37 degrees (above
the horizon) of the right angle (90) to your
overhead . Overhead to Horizon
90 90-3753Degrees (Zenith distance.) There are
60 NM. in each degree 53x60 3180Nautical Miles
from 2 to 4. You to Destination.
Cs 069
37alt
3180 Nautical Miles to 4
X
4
53 ZD.
2
72
G 19.
22

• Use as a training aid and for radio direction
  finding. Not for use for Ship or Plane
  navigation. Use Large scale Chart for safety.
  ASTRONOMER Information is for planning and
  training purpose.

G 20.
23
ASTRONOMER Instructions.Greenwich and Local mean
TIME

• ASTRONOMER Instructions.
• GREENWITCH MEAN TIME and LOCAL MEAN TIME...
• The Demonstrator Base Disk can enable you to
  convert Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to Local mean
  time LMT by using Zone Time and Zone Description.
• Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the time at
  Greenwich England, and zero longitude, GMT is
  used mainly for Sun rise/set and positioning the
  First point of Aries, the reference for stars and
  other celestial bodies.
• Local mean time is the time at your central
  longitude (the closes TZ.) where you live and the
  time on your clock.
• Zone Time is a multiple of every 15 degrees of
  longitude (15, 30, 45) and labeled with 24 hour
  military time.
• Zone Description is the difference between
  Greenwich England (1200) and where you live your
  closest labeled Zone Time.
• The importance of each is GMT keeps track of the
  Celestial bodies.
• LMT is your clock that schedules your day and
  night and places the sun high in your sky at
  1200 noon.
• Your Zone Time is your longitude and is the
  closes one of the 24 time numbers on the base
  Disk.
• Zone Description describes the difference
  between1200 at GMT and your longitude Zone Time.
  It will be in the West or in the East

GMT-LMT 22.
24
Greenwich and Local Mean TIME.

• The Base Disk is designed to aid you in this
  conversion of time from your LMT to GMT, or GMT
  to LMT. See design below. Numbers are places to
  go to
• The outer rim of the Demonstrator Base Disk is
  labeled in GMT only and can be read from Zero
  degrees of Longitude 1200 (at Greenwich) to the
  left (WEST HEMISPHERE) from 1200, clock wise to
  00/24. To the right (EAST HEMISPHERE) from 1200
  counter clockwise to -00/24.
• Example. Numbers are places to go on the diagram
  below
• Question You are at longitude 72 W hemisphere.
  Your longitude 1 72W, reading is Zone Time
  1700 on the Base Disk outer rim your LMT clock
  on your shelf reads 10 03. You want to convert
  to GMT? Answer. The difference between Greenwich
  1200 and your longitude (72W) 1700 is plus 5,
  so Zone Description is 5.You must add 5 to
  your clock, 1003 plus 5 1503 GMT. Question
  You read off the Demonstrator outer rim the GMT
  of Sunset 2320 2. Your longitude is 100 W 3
  what would your LMT on your clock read? Answer.
  The difference Greenwich 1200 and your longitude
  (100 W) 1900 is plus 7, so Zone Description is
  7. To go from GMT to LMT you must always reverse
  the sign and subtract 7. The GMT off the BD reads
  2320 7 hours LMT is1620.
• The Eastern Hemisphere works in the same way, the
  difference is that the counter clock wise
  longitude would have a zone Time of 72 E is -5
  and 100 E would be a -7.

2320 2

GMTGreenwich Mean Time. LMT Local Mean Time
your Long Clock ZT Zone Time, one of 24 hours
found by Long ( the closes hour to your Long) ZD
Zone Description, difference in hours from 1200
to another Time Zone.
KEY
7
19
3.100W
17 closest
1. 72W
5
GMT LMT 23.
25
Demonstration InstructionsGreenwich and Local
Mean TIME.
GMTGreenwich Mean Time. LMT Local Mean Time
your Long Clock ZT Zone Time, one of 24 hours
found by Long ( the closes hour to your Long) ZD
Zone Description, difference in hours from 1200
to another Time Zone.
h h
ltWEST HEMISPHERE EASTgt
GMT_LMT 24.