The following image should help you visualize how the star wheel works - the perimeter is the entire horizon - the ground, 360 degrees around you. If you went outside and looked up right now, what constellation would be directly above you, at your zenith? Look up! That's *your* Zenith! It's relative to your location, not an absolute position. The center of this map (the map is the blue oval with the stars on it), anyway the center of the map is your Zenith! The Zenith is the point directly over your head when you look straight up. You can also plan for star gazing during the day before it gets dark, because this tool allows you to predict the future! You're a Wizard, Harry! Great for stargazing party planning.īut pay close attention! This is NOT the center of the sky! It is off-center! This is because the North Star is not directly overhead at our latitude! (Though it would be if you were at the North Pole: Quickly discuss why!) This allows you to tell which constellations have just risen, and which ones are about to set. Rotate the wheel one hour ahead, and one hour behind the current time, and notice how as you rotate, today's date slides across the time ring, and all the stars rotate around the North Star (the rivet)! The "North Star", Polaris, is located where the rivet that holds the two rings together is. Congratulations, you have set the star wheel to show you what the sky looks like right now! Take a moment to look at the constellations that are currently visible.
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