Click on any other location to make no star active. Simply click on a star to make it the active star. Only one star (or none) may be active at a given time. NAAP The Rotating Sky 1/8Ģ o Note that the celestial equatorial and horizon coordinates are provided for the active star. Note that is moves on both spheres as you do this. (Hold down the shift key on the keyboard while clicking at that spot.) o You may move a star to any location by clicking on it and dragging it. o A star may be created at a specific location on either sphere by shiftclicking at that location. o A star will be randomly created by clicking the add star randomly button. There are many features related to stars. The Celestial Sphere and Horizon Diagram are also linked in that any stars are added to the simulation are shown on both. When the observer is in the southern hemisphere the SCP is seen above the south point at an altitude equal to the observer s latitude. When the observer is in the northern hemisphere the NCP is seen above the north point on the horizon at an altitude equal to the observer s latitude. Continue changing the observer s latitude and note how this is reflected on the horizon diagram.

Note how the observer s location is reflected on the Earth at the center of the Celestial Sphere (this may occur on the back side of the earth out of view). Grab the map cursor and slowly drag it back and forth vertically changing the observer s latitude. Note how the Earth Map, Celestial Sphere, and Horizon Diagram are linked together. You should practice dragging the observer to a few locations (North Pole, intersection of the Prime Meridian and the Tropic of Capricorn, etc.). You may either drag the map cursor to specify a location, type in values for the latitude and longitude directly, or use the arrow keys to make adjustments in 5 increments. A flat map of the earth is found in the lower left which allows one to control the location of the observer on the Earth. You may click and drag either the celestial sphere or the horizon diagram to change your perspective. The directions below will help you fully explore the capabilities of the simulator. Open the Rotating Sky Explorer The Rotating Sky Explorer consists of a flat map of the Earth, Celestial Sphere, and a Horizon Diagram that are linked together. All of the concepts that are covered in these pages are used in the Rotating Sky Explorer and will be explored more fully there. 1 Name: The Rotating Sky Student Guide Pretest Score: Horizon Coordinates Work through the explanatory material on the Observer, Two Systems Celestial, Horizon, Bands in the Sky, and the Paths of Stars.

Stellarium download version 0.10.6.1