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Old 30-12-2012, 08:56 AM
smader (Stacy)
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smader is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Orange, NSW
Posts: 54
Ra/dec

Hi,

All celstial objects (including planets) have coordinates called Right Ascension (RA) and Declination (DEC). It is similar to the geographical coordinates you find on a map, but instead you are looking at coordinates on the celestial sphere - imaging a sphere in space with the earth in the center.

Do you have a GOTO telescope? Of not, there would be RA and DEC circles on your telescope mount. You will have to align your telescope and then use the RA/DEC of the planets to move the circles to the coordinates of the planet you want to look at. There should be something in your manual that covers this.


A good primer on RA/DEC is here:

http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/que...php?number=112

See also

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equator...rdinate_system

HTH...

Cheers,
Stacy.
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