The Joy of Deneb

[Renato1]

We just spent last week looking around marvellous Brisbane. Staying in South Bank with the moon out most of the time, meant that there wasn't going to be much done by way of astronomy.

But, sitting at night on our 9th floor balcony, I was endlessly fascinated by how high in the sky Deneb was - since last time I saw it from around the Melbourne region was from Port Arlington way back in 1979.

It also seemed odd having Orion way overhead, and seeing Capella much higher in the sky too.

It just made it plain to me that when we are discussing the sky here, we actually have somewhat different perceptions given our different lattitudes. Logically one knows that to be the case, but I found it most amusing to actually experience it.
Regards,
Renato

[bojan]

Yes..
First time I really realized Earth is round was when I saw Canopus from Florida USA, where I was on business trip (this was my first voyage to lower latitudes, from my native +45deg)

[blink138]

yep was in the uk a couple of weeks ago, had a couple of clear nights and looking up?............ felt i was on an alien planet!
pat

[Renato1]

The alien planet feel is something I think we've all experienced when travelling.

But it goes beyond that. I know the sky very from Melbourne, and I know the sky pretty well from northern Italy (after getting used to the alien planet thing). I was at the Grand Canyon last June, and even though I could make out Scorpious and other southern constellations easily, and I could spot Polaris and surrounding constellations without difficulty - I was still totally lost with the stars in-between.

I was so frustrated that I went and bought a "The Night Sky" planisphere for that lattitude, so that I could sort it out.
Regards,
Renato

[julianh72]

The "alien planet" thing afflicts me even in daylight.

I've usually got a pretty good sense of direction, so one glance at the sky to locate the Sun tells me roughly where North is, and then I've got my bearings, without really having to think about it. However, on a recent trip to Europe, I was having all sorts of issues. I was okay having to think consciously about the Sun lying in the South, but I really struggled with "flipping" my subconscious compass rose.

"Okay, so we need to go East, so face the Sun to face South, and then East should be on my right... No, left! "

It seems that my knowledge that the Sun lies in the North (in the Southern hemisphere), and that you point the top of the map towards the Sun, is even more powerful than the fact that it lies in the East in the morning and in the West in the afternoon.

[Renato1]

I too just keep getting thrown by the sun being in the "wrong" direction when in Europe.

And the moon keeps coming up in the wrong direction too! And it has the wrong phases and is upside down as well.
Cheers,
Renato

[Camelopardalis]

Imagine how it feels coming down the other way for the first time...the sky is full of stars, none of them familiar...until you figure out where north is, and realise there are some old friends, they're just upside down :lol:

The Sun being flipped over still turns me about sometimes...

[Renato1]

At least in Brisbane, you can still spot a lot of old friends in the northern sky.
Had you come down to Victoria, your old friends would have been a lot sparser - and the Summer Triangle would be the Summer Line.
Cheers,
Renato

[julianh72]

Winter Line!

[g__day]

Same for me in Norway this year in February - until I saw Orion everything was bizzarely - almost familiar but not - really surprising and a tad off putting to say the least!

[Renato1]

But there is no Winter in Brisbane.
Regards,
Renato

[Camelopardalis]

Brisbane was a more recent transition...started this chapter of life in Sydney...I remember well my first night out in the Blue Mountains...so full of stars :lol:

[Camelopardalis]

Winter this year was on a Sunday, or so it said in the paper!

[blink138]

yep and as i tell my uk cousins, their summer was on tuesday this year..... they hate that one!
pat

[Camelopardalis]

:lol: :lol:

[Renato1]

Didn't you mean Tuesday afternoon?
Cheers,
Renato

[julianh72]

Just after lunch, and before afternoon tea!