Best Place to View Stars: North Pole

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the optimal location for viewing stars on Earth, particularly focusing on the North Pole and the implications of a formula relating star visibility to latitude and declination. Participants explore theoretical and practical aspects of stargazing, including conditions such as weather and light pollution.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a formula for the minimum altitude of a star based on latitude and declination, suggesting that the North Pole would be the best location for viewing stars due to the maximum latitude.
  • Another participant questions the number of stars visible from the North Pole and inquires about locations on Earth where one could view stars from both hemispheres, suggesting the equator as a potential answer.
  • A follow-up post reiterates the question about viewing stars from two hemispheres and challenges the applicability of the formula, speculating that it may only be valid for northern hemisphere latitudes.
  • One participant raises the idea that the best viewing location might be where the Milky Way is at zenith at local midnight, introducing a different perspective on optimal stargazing conditions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the best location for star viewing, with some supporting the North Pole based on the formula, while others argue for the equator or other locations based on practical considerations. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of the formula and the best viewing conditions.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights potential limitations of the formula, including its dependence on specific conditions and the interpretation of star visibility based on latitude and declination. The assumptions regarding perfect weather and light pollution are also noted as significant factors.

Brian T
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From my astrophysics class, we were given that the minimum altitude of a star relative to your latitude on Earth (\phi) is given by:
$$h_{min} = \delta + \phi - 90°$$ (where \delta is the declination angle of the star)

Supposing you were trying to view as many stars as possible in the night sky (assuming perfect weather conditions / no light pollution everywhere on the Earth), where would be the best place to go?

Using the formula, you want h_{min} to be as positive as possible for any given star declination \delta. This means you should make you \phi as large as possible, which would be 90 degrees (i.e. North pole). Is my reasoning correct, from this formula, that the best place to view as many stars as possible (again assuming perfect weather) would be at the north pole?
 
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How many stars in one hemisphere? (North pole)
Is there any place on Earth you can view two hemispheres?
 
Bystander said:
How many stars in one hemisphere? (North pole)
Is there any place on Earth you can view two hemispheres?
That would be at the equator, correct? That makes sense (e.g. a lot of observatories in South America), but why does the formula say otherwise?
Is this because the formula only works for Northern hermisphere latitudes?
 
I suspect it's a matter of the interpretation of the question.
 
For naked eye viewing, wouldn't the best spot be where the Milkyway was at zenith at local midnite?
 

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