Undergrad How would one know whether a star would be observable?

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SUMMARY

To determine if a star is observable above the local horizon, one must consider its Right Ascension (R.A.) and Declination (Dec.) in relation to the observer's latitude and local sidereal time. For an observer at the prime meridian with a latitude of 50 degrees, a star with coordinates R.A. 02:00:00 and Dec. 05:00:00 will not be above the horizon between the sidereal times of 11:00:00 and 16:00:00, as its R.A. does not fall within the necessary range. Additionally, a star's Dec. must be between 90 and -40 degrees to be visible. Using planetarium software can help determine visibility for specific conditions, such as being above the horizon for at least one hour under 1.5 airmasses.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of celestial coordinates: Right Ascension (R.A.) and Declination (Dec.)
  • Knowledge of local sidereal time calculations
  • Familiarity with observer's latitude and its impact on visibility
  • Experience with planetarium software for astronomical observations
NEXT STEPS
  • Research how to calculate local sidereal time based on GMT and observer's location
  • Learn to use planetarium software for real-time star visibility analysis
  • Explore the criteria for star visibility based on airmass and atmospheric conditions
  • Study the effects of latitude on star visibility and horizon calculations
USEFUL FOR

Astronomy enthusiasts, amateur astronomers, and anyone interested in celestial navigation and star observation techniques.

Barely_Conscious
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I'd like to answer this yes or no question for a number of objects: "Is this star, at any point between these two times, going to be above the local horizon?".

Say, I'm at the prime meridian at a latitude of 50 degrees, and I want to know whether, between the sidereal times of 11:00:00 and 16:00:00 (already calculated from GMT with appropriate corrections), a star of co-ordinates (R.A. 02:00:00, Dec. 05:00:00) would ever be above the horizon, how would I go about working it out?

I'm assuming (correct me if I'm wrong) that if the R.A is within 6 hours of either time, it will be above the horizon at some point, so in this case it'd be between 05:00:00 and 22:00:00 (this star wouldn't be above the horizon). As for the Dec., does it just have to be between 90 and -40 degrees to be visible? Or is there some other criterion I'm missing?

In addition to this, is it possible to determine, for each visible object, whether they'd be visible for at least one hour under 1.5 airmasses?
 
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The simplest way would be to use a planetarium program set to your co-ordinates. Several are available free via the internet or a nominal cost. Search "free planetarium software".

Regards Andrew
 
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