B Ken's Constellation Query: Viewing Same Constellation in AUS & SA

[Ken Osbourne]

TL;DR Summary

new starter question.......same local time, elevation and latitude in southern hemisphere

I live in Sydney AUS and look into the night sky most evenings...my question is - I will be travelling between AUS and Cape Town in South Africa from time to time. If I view a particular constellation directly south of me at say 9pm local Sydney time, and then when in Cape Town SA (pretty much the same latitude), a day or two later, view directly south of my position, at the same elevation at 9pm local time, should I be able to see the same constellation as I did in Sydney with all the same parameters at the same local time. Would my thinking be the same for all positions around the southern hemisphere (same latitude) at the same elevation and local time ?.

Hoping someone can help,
Cheers
Ken Osbourne

 

[Baluncore]

Welcome to PF.

Would my thinking be the same for all positions around the southern hemisphere (same latitude) at the same elevation and local time ?

Yes.

 

[Ken Osbourne]

Thanks for the quick reply,
What got me thinking, was the local times and how constellations correlated with being in those same positions, or was I just over thinking it ??

 

[Baluncore]

or was I just over thinking it ?

You cannot overthink astronomy or celestial navigation.

The Earth orbits the Sun once each year, so the Sun appears to move through the constellations in the background, (astrology). The Earth rotates once each sidereal day. So there are two important parameters, the day of the year and the local time.

When you use a planisphere, you line up the date with the local time to show the position of the constellations on that date, at that local time. The planets wander along, near the ecliptic, which is shown on the planisphere.
Find yourself a planisphere for the latitude of Sydney.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planisphere

The quick reply came from 1000 km south of you.

 

[Baluncore]

The Heavens Above website is a good start;
https://www.heavens-above.com/main.aspx
If you want a traditional planisphere, take a look at;
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/191561243498

 

[Ken Osbourne]

thank you so much for the info, you've been very helpful.

1000kms sth ......must be around Hobart somewhere ?

 

[davenn]

thank you so much for the info, you've been very helpful.

1000kms sth ......must be around Hobart somewhere ?

hi Ken
welcome to PF

Greetings from another Sydney dweller
(inner west) West Ryde

Dave

 

[pbuk]

Do you have the excellent software Stellarium?