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I did the same thing Frank Reed did, and responded without catching the
address.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joel Jacobs" 
To: 
Sent: Monday, April 05, 2004 8:49 AM
Subject: Re: Polaris isn't so easy!

Jim,

I'm not sure I'm adding to what you already know, but the leading edge of
the big dipper's cup always points at the N. star. Also, the end of the
Little Dipper's handle does the same.

I think I recall that your LAT was about 45 degrees N. I don't have an
almanac, but if my Lat assumption is correct, no matter what the LHA, the
alt should always be around 45 degrees.

Even knowing its predicted altitude, at times I have had problems finding it
at sea.

Joel Jacobs



>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jim Thompson" 
> To: 
> Sent: Monday, April 05, 2004 7:05 AM
> Subject: Polaris isn't so easy!
>
>
> > Polaris is my last assignment for the compulsory sight folder in my
Power
> > Squadron course.  Now that the weather is starting to improve a bit
(still
> > doggone chilly at twilight, with ice on the horizon), I am trying to get
> > Polaris done with my AstraIIIb sextant.  Given that Polaris was a
mainstay
> > of navigation for centuries, I assumed that it was easy to shoot.  But I
> am
> > finding it difficult, mainly because Polaris is faint enough that by the
> > time it comes out the horizon is getting pretty dark.  The evening
horizon
> > is hazy this time of year too (warm days, cool sea and evening air), so
> near
> > nautical twilight the horizon is that much harder to find, even with my
> 2.5x
> > telescope.
> >
> > Natural horizon: What are the tricks that ocean-going navigators used
for
> > shooting Polaris?
> >
> > For the backyard: Does Polaris show up in an artifical horizon (pan of
> oil)?
> >
> > Jim Thompson
> > jim2@jimthompson.net
> > www.jimthompson.net
> > Outgoing mail scanned by Norton Antivirus
> > -----------------------------------------
>

   

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