How To Find Polaris - Bresser Goto-Kit Instruction Manual

Instruction Manual
Abb. 7: The Andromeda Galaxy
(M31), the biggest one in our local
group.
Hint:
Star Charts
Star charts and planisphere are very
useful tools and are great aids in plan-
ning a night of celestial viewing.
A wide variety of star charts are available
in books, in magazines, on the internet
and on CD Roms.
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How to find the polar star
Based on both „pointer stars" - the two rear stars of the bowl of the Big Dipper -
draw a line, between these two stars and extend it out about 5 times till you reach
the polar star. Extend this line further, well above the polar star, then you will reach
the great star quadrant, which Pegasus and Andromeda share with one another.
The Summer Triangle illustrates a striking celestial region to the left of the handle
of the Big Dipper. This triangle consists of three very bright stars: Vega, Deneb
and Atair.
If you draw an imaginary straight line in the direction of the Dipper arc, you will
arrive at the summer constellation Scorpius. The scorpion curves in the sky like a
scorpion's tail to the left, it looks a bit like the letter „J".
The American amateurs have coined the saying „Arc to Arcturus and spike to
Spica". They therefore refer to a celestial region, which is situated in the immediate
extension of the arc, which is described by the arc of the Big Dipper. Follow the arc
to Arcturus, the brightest star in the northern hemisphere, and then „point" down
to Spica, the 16th-brightest star in the sky.