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Cyrus80772
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How do you figure out what constellation of the zodiac the sun is said to be crossing during certain months?
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... the constellation in a strait line if you do it at true midnight right? Like if the constellation was Leo you could say the sun is crossing Leo? Is that how you do it?
What exactly do you mean by "verify"? You can use wikipedia or a star chart and they'll tell you.So what meathod would I use to verify what constillation the sun is currently in?
So what meathod would I use to verify what constillation the sun is currently in?
If you mean verify by yourself, with your own observation, then you could wait and see which constellation is 180 degrees from the sun 6 months from now.
It is easy. First learn to identify the constellations. Now observe the constellation of the zodiac on the western horizon which is first visible in the evening after the sun sets, do same in the morning for the eastern horizon. The constellation which falls between those two is the one blocked by the sun.
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I'm not sure what you mean - you look at it with your eyes. You mean how to find it? You look exactly opposite to where the sun is, which you can find with a compass and a watch or look due south at midnight.Ok so after I wait 6 months how would I "see" what constellation is 180 degrees from the sun?
Your planetarium program no doubt let's you move forward or backwards in time - just scroll around by days and see where the sun moves.I did that and got aries and taurus I drew I line between them on my star map and got dead center between aries and taurus. But it was really almost dead center of aries. I am using a stellarium program so I can see exactly what sign the sun is in.
This meathod looks like a good way to get a ruff estimate of where the sun is but are there any other ways to find out more exactly when the sun will be in exactly in the center of taurus?
There is no exact center - there are no well defined boundaries for constellations. They are not scientific things. And scientists certainly don't pay enough attention to astrologers to agree or disagree with them on anything - assuming you could even get astrologers to agree with each other! :rofl:Further more what is the exact center of taurus? Do astrologers that account for presession
and astronomers agree on a general "center point" or exact "boundrys" every 30 degrees around the ecliptic?
wiki said:Unlike the zodiac signs in astrology, which are all thirty degrees in length, the astronomical constellations vary widely in size. The boundaries of all the constellations in the sky were set by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1930. This was essentially a mapping exercise to make the work of astronomers more efficient, and the boundaries of the constellations are not therefore in any meaningful sense an 'equivalent' to the zodiac signs. Along with the twelve original constellations, the boundaries of a thirteenth constellation, Ophiuchus (the serpent bearer), were set by astronomers within the bounds of the zodiac.
You look exactly opposite to where the sun is, which you can find with a compass and a watch or look due south at midnight.
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