Re: Location

Sue J. Worden (worden@uts.cc.utexas.edu)
Thu, 25 Mar 1999 18:37:19 -0600 (CST)

> From: "McConahy, Ralph" <RMcConahy@jbar.gdscc.nasa.gov>
> Subject: RE: Location
> Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 14:20:42 -0800
> [ ... ]
> Here are a couple of tricks: with your arm extended full-length

	and with your fist closed (with thumb tucked
	inside your fingers) the width of your fist is
	about 10 degrees.  That's the one I use most,
	since I can stack closed fists to measure up
	to higher angles.

	A whole set of these useful angle estimation
	"tricks" are described in "NightWatch" by
	Terence Dickinson.

	To make a handout for a public star party a
	couple of years ago, I wrote a short web page
	intro to alt/az and angle estimation tricks
	for my astronomy club's site.  It's at:
	   http://www.main.org/aas/angles.html
	Feel free to copy it and improve upon it for
	your own club or other noncommercial purposes.

	--Sue Worden (worden@uts.cc.utexas.edu)