Astronomy question Options

[ustrax]

I've been looking for some site that could do this work but I not being lucky finding one...
What I would like to know, and maybe someone with more knowledge and ability for the stars stuff could answer me this:
Was there a moment in time where Ophiuchus was in the sky's azimuth and, at the same time, having the Piscis Austrinus and Aquarius constellation on the Eastern horizon?

Thank you in advance.

Or...Secondary question...If there is a time in the year where were closer to this scenario when would it be? (All this for the Northern hemisphere, south of Portugal)

[Michael Capobian...]

Yes, although Ophiuchus would be moving over to the west a bit when Fomalhaut (alpha Piscis Austrini) is rising at about 12:30 this time of year.

The constellations would be in about the same position at 8:30 in mid-September.

Michael

I've been looking for some site that could do this work but I not being lucky finding one...
What I would like to know, and maybe someone with more knowledge and ability for the stars stuff could answer me this:
Was there a moment in time where Ophiuchus was in the sky's azimuth and, at the same time, having the Piscis Austrinus and Aquarius constellation on the Eastern horizon?

Thank you in advance.

Or...Secondary question...If there is a time in the year where were closer to this scenario when would it be? (All this for the Northern hemisphere, south of Portugal)

[ustrax]

The constellations would be in about the same position at 8:30 in mid-September.

Michael

Thank you very much Michael!
Would that have something to do with the autumnal equinox or are we speaking of completely different things?

[Michael Capobian...]

There's no connection that I'm aware of.

Michael

Thank you very much Michael!
Would that have something to do with the autumnal equinox or are we speaking of completely different things?

[ustrax]

There's no connection that I'm aware of.

Michael

But the constellations are in that position in mid-September year after year or it only happens this year?
If it is annual, in spite of having no connection with the equinox, can it be seen as a prelude of it?

[Michael Capobian...]

Except for precession, which slowly changes the position of the constellations over hundreds of years, this is indeed the position of the constellations every year. I guess the rising of Fomalhaut just after sunset could be viewed as a prelude to the coming equinox.

Michael

But the constellations are in that position in mid-September year after year or it only happens this year?
If it is annual, in spite of having no connection with the equinox, can it be seen as a prelude of it?

[ustrax]

Except for precession, which slowly changes the position of the constellations over hundreds of years, this is indeed the position of the constellations every year. I guess the rising of Fomalhaut just after sunset could be viewed as a prelude to the coming equinox.

Michael

I like that!
And when Fomalhaut rises is Ophiuchus in the zenith or disappearing through the western horizon?
...Sorry for all the questions Michael...

Do you know of a place where I can find a star map with that precise situation?

[Michael Capobian...]

It's west of the zenith but still overhead.

Go to http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/almanac/ and there's a link to an interactive sky chart towards the bottom of the page. (requires Java)

I like that!
And when Fomalhaut rises is Ophiuchus in the zenith or disappearing through the western horizon?
...Sorry for all the questions Michael...

Do you know of a place where I can find a star map with that precise situation?

[ustrax]

It's west of the zenith but still overhead.

Go to http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/almanac/ and there's a link to an interactive sky chart towards the bottom of the page. (requires Java)

Perfect! That is just the toy I needed!

Once more thanks a lot Michael!

[ustrax]

Does this have any reliable basis or it is just the 'seing elephants in clouds' syndrome?:

On the left is the area comprising Ophiuchus (bottom = W) and Piscis Austrinus and Aquarius (top = E), on the right a stone monument (not pseudo-science just curiosity!):

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b14/ustr...ndres_fig01.jpg

I've seen some patterns between one and the other, mainly:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b14/ustr...ndres_fig02.jpg

Then, tried to match them...These neolitic guys...Drinking while working... :

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b14/ustr...ndres_fig03.jpg

I would appreciate some comments based on astronomy knowledge.

[jamescanvin]

Now try again with another set of stars - see if the match is any better or worse.

I notice you've deleted quite a few stars in the comparison (in the middle) - did the neolithic guys get so drunk they couldn't finish it?

I remember seeing an overlay once of a good match between a set of stars and New York subway stations or something. That was a good demonstration of what you can do with star patterns.

James

[ustrax]

Now try again with another set of stars - see if the match is any better or worse.

I notice you've deleted quite a few stars in the comparison (in the middle) - did the neolithic guys get so drunk they couldn't finish it?

Maybe they've run out of stones or needed some space for their allucinated raves...

Edited: I've deleted the ones looking dimmer...

[Michael Capobian...]

There are some pretty obvious patterns in the sky in that area. For one, Serpens (Caput and Cauda) and the bottom of Ophiuchus trace out a long snake-like line. The summer triangle (Vega, Deneb, and Altair) and, for that matter, the Milky Way should also be prominent in any drawing of the summer sky.

Michael

Maybe they've run out of stones or needed some space for their allucinated raves...

Edited: I've deleted the ones looking dimmer...

[ustrax]

The summer triangle (Vega, Deneb, and Altair) and, for that matter, the Milky Way should also be prominent in any drawing of the summer sky.

Michael, Altair was my departing point for being the shiniest star in the area, it's the one on the left in this image, the one on the lower right could be Vega and what about Deneb?...:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b14/ustr...ndres_fig04.jpg

!Suppositions oh suppositons!

[Michael Capobian...]

Actually, I don't see any recognizable patterns in either picture. Could you give us some background on this or a link?

Michael

Michael, Altair was my departing point for being the shiniest star in the area, it's the one on the left in this image, the one on the lower right could be Vega and what about Deneb?...:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b14/ustr...ndres_fig04.jpg

!Suppositions oh suppositons!