![]() What Info Does A Planisphere And A Star Chart Show? ![]() And if you want the best precision, you should correct for your local longitude as well.Īpps for smartphones don’t have these limitations. I live in Brussels, Belgium, about 51º N and I had to get a planisphere for 50º N latitude, which is accurate between 45ºN and 55ºN. The interface of SkySafari (left) and Stellarium (right) are two of the most common astronomy apps for smartphones.īecause of the small font often used in star charts and planispheres, they could prove rather hard to read at night.įinally, planispheres are only accurate for a small range of latitudes. With those apps you can get detailed info on stars, planets and deep sky objects, simulate the exact field of view of your instrument, easily move back and forward in time, and even control your mount.Īstronomy apps for smartphones are also much easier to use: simply point your phone at the sky to see on screen what is in the part of the sky you are framing. While star charts and planispheres pack a lot of info, apps such as Stellarium and SkySafari provide a ton more information. Planispheres and star charts do have some limitations. ![]() What Are The Limitations Of Star Charts And Planisphere? It gives you a quick overview of the stars and constellations in the entire night sky, horizon to horizon, as visible for your location. Nonetheless, a planisphere is still a nice educational instrument for learning about the sky. In today’s digital world, though, many outstanding astronomy apps are just one tap away on your smartphone. “I think this can happen to all of us.They sure were, for astronomers as well as for sailors sailing through the night. “I’m a professional because one day I became interested in looking up at the sky,” says Tafalla. While culturally these beliefs have faded, planetary alignments remain of great interest to astronomy, says Armentia.īoth scientists agree that while this may not be a major event, it is a good opportunity to bring astronomy closer to the people as they can see it with their naked eye. In ancient times, it was believed that studying the stars and the planets could provide clues about what was going to happen on Earth. The alignment of planets used to be of great importance, especially in Roman times and in ancient Greece, since the planets were believed to be messengers or harbingers of things to come, he explains. The word “planet” has come to mean wandering star, says Armentia. “We also see the planets as dots, but they are larger and the flicker much less, they have a more stable brightness,” says Javier. This is because the light from a star passes through different layers of a turbulent atmosphere. Javier Armentia, an astrophysicist and director of the Pamplona Planetarium in Spain, says there is an easy way to identify the planets and not mix them up with stars – the planets are brighter and do not twinkle, as stars appear to do. According to Tafalla, the most difficult planet to spot is Mercury, as it is very close to the Sun, while Venus is the brightest. It’s also important to find a position with little light pollution. The ideal place to see the alignment is in a spot where there is an unhindered view of the horizon, with no trees or buildings. The five planets can easily be spotted with the naked eye. “What is curious about it is that if you look from east to west, they are aligned in the same order as they are in distance from the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and finally Saturn,” says Tafalla. Although this event typically happens every 57 years, NASA expects the next alignment to take place in September 2040. This is the first time this alignment has happened since December 2004, although on that occasion, the planets were further apart from one another, says Mario Tafalla, a member of Spain’s National Astronomy Observatory. ![]() The best time for viewing will be just before sunrise on Friday, June 24, when the Moon will join the lineup, appearing between Venus and Mars. A rare planet parade is offering skywatchers the chance to see the five major planets in alignment: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.
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