Tree Skyline

[PKay (Peter)]

Surely there has to be an easier way.

To calculate when a target is going to clear the trees, I have resorted to taking a picture of the treeline and overlaying a Alt/Az grid.
Then manually plotting the target.

Any better ideas?

PK

[multiweb (Marc)]

If you use cartes du ciel you can define a custom horizon in a text file so the planetarium software will show you your imaging window.

[Xeteth (David)]

Further to what Marc said, you can also add a custom landscape using Stellarium. That will allow you to easily see what targets are available and at what time.

[PKay (Peter)]

Thanks chaps

Will give it a go, and looking the other way, I can add the house...

[PKay (Peter)]

Success!

Advice for creating a horizon required using a theodolite to map it.
Hmm, don't have one handy.

Sooo, tried this and it worked.
I fired up the scope and EQ6 (daytime).
It was already aligned so 'start from park'.

Used the finder scope to centre on the tree line.
Then the UTILITY FUNCTION/Show Position on the Synscan hand control.
Made a list of Alt/Azm coordinates in note pad.

Entered the list into Cartes Du Ciel

The result is very accurate!

[PKay (Peter)]

And here is the result for Stellarium

[LostInSp_ce]

Another way to do this is to take panoramas of all your locations at the exact spot where you position your mount. Then as David said you can add them as a custom background in Stellarium. Here's an example using one of my favourite sites.