Star orientation. Travel Tips

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Star orientation. Travel Tips

Tourist tips

Here are ways orienteering by the stars.

North hemisphere

The direction to the north can be determined by the North Star. This is the last star in the bucket of the constellation Ursa Minor. The North Star is located within one degree of the North Pole of the World and is an accurate and reliable reference point for determining the direction of the geographic north.

The easiest way to find the North Star is by focusing on the bucket of the Big Dipper. The bright stars Dubbe and Merak on the outer side of the bucket, opposite to its handle, are called pointers, since they indicate the direction to the North Star. Mentally draw a straight line through these two stars, about five distances between the stars, in this place should be the North Star.

At latitudes above 50°N on clear nights. Ursa Major is visible almost always. If the constellation is not visible for some reason, the North Star can be found by the constellation Cassiopeia, which has the characteristic shape of the letter M (W) and is located symmetrically to the Big Dipper relative to the North Star. To do this, imagine a straight line connecting the three brightest stars of the constellation, and restore the perpendicular from the center. The North Star is located approximately at a distance of four wingspans of the M zigzag.

Having found the North Star and determined the direction of movement, you can accurately maintain a course, focusing on some bright star located directly in the direction of your movement. Remember at the same time that the stars revolve around the North Star at a speed of 15 ° per hour, therefore, approximately every 20 minutes, you need to check the course of the North Star and choose a new star for yourself as a guide.

Southern Hemisphere

There is no such clear star landmark as in the north in the Southern Hemisphere. Nevertheless, there is a constellation in the sky of the Southern Hemisphere that can help the traveler determine the direction to the south. This is the constellation of the Southern Cross, consisting of five bright, criss-crossed stars. In the lower left corner of the constellation is the Coal Sack - an area devoid of visible stars, next to two bright stars of the Centaur constellation.

Having found the Southern Cross in the night sky, draw an imaginary line between the two most distant stars from each other - the South Pole of the World is located on this line. To determine the desired point on the line, use the stars from the constellation Centaur, located to the left of the Southern Cross. Connect the stars with an imaginary line and draw a perpendicular from it. At the intersection of the perpendicular and the first line, the South Pole of the World is located.

If you are unsure of your constructions, wait until the Southern Cross is vertical in the sky. Then the south will be on the horizon line directly below the constellation.

Orion

The constellation Orion is easy to find by the three bright stars located on his "belt". Orion is located on the celestial equator, so it rises exactly in the east and sets almost exactly in the west, regardless of the latitude of the place of observation. The constellation is clearly visible in the winter night sky in the Northern Hemisphere and in the summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

According to Orion, you can determine the direction to the west, the point of which on the horizon the constellation belt crosses when setting. East is more difficult to define, because. there is a chance that you will recognize this constellation after it rises above the horizon.

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