NavList:

I want to thank you for writing about the rude Star finder; it gives me an opportunity to increase the information on the two-minute Star finder. First there is a big difference between the rude and the two-minute. What you said about the rude Star finder is true. I was not talking about the rude Star finder. I agree that there are many Star finders on the market, most of them find stars in relation to other stars, but the rude Star finder and the two-minute time starsfinder is in relation to the Observer in terms of bearing and height. Both of them have the same accuracy. Although the two-minute Star finder can be made more accurate by adjusting the latitude to your known Latitude where the rude Star finder is in increments of 10°. I have used other Star finders and find that their accuracy and ease of operation does not compare with the two-minute Star finder. The two-minute Star finder was made to be used on the level of a fifth grader and uses no other reference it is self contained. From the comments made I would think that you did not look at or study the images of the two-minute that I had put on Navlist. I believe that the two-minute Star finder can be learned in 20 minutes or less. To set up the sky you need only add two times together (GMT& GMT for month and day) (how hard is that?). Once the sky is set up the outer rim contains Greenwich Mean Time that can be continuously increased or decreased showing the sky changes as it appears to the observer. . I have visited local planetariums and believe that the fifth-grader mentioned above will leave very impressed with what he sees but I also believe that when he gets outside and looks at our wonderful sky he will not be able to tell who is who among the great number of stars. If you gave that same person my Star finder with 15 minutes of instruction he will quickly and easily say who is who among at least a star of the 57 stars on the Star base. (More can be added including Planets.) I think you need to take another look at the two-minute to see the differences. Another thought coming to mind, is in the heavy cloudy sky even that person that knows the sky constellations will have difficulty in locating one two or three stars that may show. My definition of the black box is the gathering of information as a result of going through the box, things happening to the input you may not be able to control or see information continuously and visually until the information comes out. The two-minute Star finder has no hidden actions and parts always visual steps and solutions. You can visually see latitude longitude, GHA, SHA, and Declamation. You can visually see LHA the height of the body the bearing of the body, all this visible and the only mistakes will be the user carelessness. The user has complete control of the 2 minute at all times and can easily observe each step all the way to finnish and if need be, make corrections that are all visible. Sure I'll love the Big Dipper handle and running into Arcturus, but you must first see the handle . Sure we all have our favorite ways of finding the stars in our sky and we are partial to our particular procedure. But I am looking at the people who cannot presently located in name who is who, many people, a great number, don't even bother with Celestial because it is difficult. The great number of people that have telescopes and binoculars that would desire to look at our heaven sky are the people that I am aiming at. This is a much greater number than those that already know, and can work celestial problems with navigation. What about the enjoyment of seeing heavenly bodies. I am talking about the two-minute Star finder and not that limited, difficult rude Star finder. The attached image was set up in less than two minute it did not go through the back box and I was the master of the results. They may not be perfect answers, but who and how can thing be quicker and easier to accomplish such a task. Please take another look. Byron

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