This Slide Show Will Help You to Learn How to Use
Stellarium
A free planetarium programthat you can download, install on your computer and use to learn the night sky.
We will use this program in the TAAS Fabulous 50 program.
This program is designed to get you started with using Stellarium
24 Jan 15
TAAS Fabulous 50 2015
What is Stellarium?
A FREE night sky planetarium program.
The program allows you to
(1) set your
- observing location (use Albuquerque)
- date of observing
- time of day.
(2) identify objects
(3) find objects
What is Stellarium?
http://www.stellarium.org/
You need to log into
Install the program on your computer and then
follow the instructions from the next slides on how to use the program.
Choose your operating system and then you can download the program
You can also download a “User Guide”
How Do I Obtain Stellarium?
We will now learn how to the use STELLARIUM.
You can use STELLARIUM to plan your observing sessions.
When you return to the computer after observing,
You can use it to confirm your observations.
How to Use Stellarium
When we first open STELLARIUM on the computer this screen will appear.
The appearance of the sky will reflect the time of day that you open the program.
Noon 10 pm
There are two menus that we use to properly configure STELLARIUM.
Placing the cursor on the bottom of the page
will make the bottom menu appear.
How to Use Stellarium (cont.)
Placing the cursor on
the left side of the page
will make the second
menu appear.
How to Use Stellarium (cont.)
Placing the cursor over each symbol
will give you the name of the symbol.
This shows the
“Date/time window”.
How to Use Stellarium (cont.)
How to Use Stellarium (cont.)
We begin by setting the
correct date and time.
First we click on the
Date/time symbol.
This brings up the
“Date and Time” window.
How to Use Stellarium (cont.)
To change the settings click on the small symbols to either
increase the setting
or
decrease the setting
+_
This example shows how to change the year.
You can also change the month and day
and the
hour minute and second
month day hour minute second
This means you can look back at the night sky on the day that you were born.
year
How to Use Stellarium (cont.)
To change the direction you are observing
depress and hold the cursor as you drag it across the screen.
Note how the position of Sirius changes as you move your cursor from left
to right
- in the left photo when looking east
- in the right photo when looking south.
How to Use Stellarium (cont.)
We shall next set the location for your observing session.
Click on the location window on the left side of the screen.
The “Location” window will appear.
How to Use Stellarium (cont.)
Use the slide bar to select your location (Albuquerque, United States).
The latitude and longitude will appear
and a red arrow will appear on the map.
Clicking the “Use as default” will lock in the location for your
next session.
How to Use Stellarium (cont.)
To show the constellation lines and labels
click both symbols on the bottom menu.
The constellation lines and
labels will appear
How to Use Stellarium (cont.)
To identify an object
click on the object.
A circle appears around
the object.
The name of the object
appears in the upper
left hand corner.
Detailed information is
Provided below the name.
To close out the information
right click the mouse.
How to Use Stellarium (cont.)
To find the location of an object, click on the Search window.
The “Find Object or Position” box appears.
How to Use Stellarium (cont.)
Type in the name of the object.
A circle appears around the
object and
the information about the
object appears in the upper
left hand corner.
To close out the information
right click the mouse.
How to Use Stellarium (cont.)
To label objects in the sky
click on the Sky and viewing options window.
The “View” window appears.
How to Use Stellarium (cont.)
Click on the boxes to label the stars and planets.
You can also set the brightness level of stars and deep sky objects (DSO’s)
Other options are also available.
Now we will turn our attention to patterns in the sky.
We will look for four star patterns which
will be a part of these constellations.
Observing Star Patterns
OrionCanis Major
Gemini
Canis Minor
Observing Star Patterns
using Stellarium
Orion Canis Major Gemini Canis Minor
CANIS MAJOR
Is also know as the
“BIG DOG.”
It contains the brightest
star in the sky
SIRIUS
which is sometimes
called the
DOG STAR.
Observing Star Patterns - CANIS MAJOR
Locating Canis Major
Look SOUTHEAST find SIRIUS
It is in CANIS MAJOR
We also observe Betelgeuse and Rigel in Orion
and Procyon in Canis Minor
SE
Observing Star Patterns - ORION
ORION is a very easy to recognize constellation that is visible from both the
northern and southern hemisphere.
It has two very brilliant stars RIGEL and
everyone’s favorite star BETELGEUSE (reddish color).
It contains the naked eye visible nebula M 42.
It appears as the middle “star” of Orion's sword.
The naked eye visible nebula M 42.
New stars are being formed in this region that
is 1,500 light years distant.
This is also called Messier 42 “The Great Orion Nebula.”
ORION
Locating Orion
Look SOUTHEAST
Find SIRIUS
It is below ORION
In Orion we observe
Rigel
Betelgeuse
and the three stars that form the “BELT” of Orion
SE
Observing Star Patterns - GEMINI
GEMINI the twins contains the two “twin stars”
CASTOR and POLLUX.
It is near the star PROCYON in CANIS MINOR
which is know as the “LITTLE DOG”.
To the right of Gemini is Betelgeuse
Locating Gemini
Look SOUTHEAST
find SIRIUS
it is below and to the right of GEMINI
We also observe Rigel and Betelgeuse in Orion
and Procyon (in CANIS MINOR)
SE
This completes the basic instructions
on how to use Stellarium
It might be helpful for you to review
this presentation several times to
get familiar with Stellarium
You may address any questions/suggestions to
Clear skies!
The End
M - 42
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