Right ascension and Declination calculations

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating Right Ascension (RA) and Declination (Dec) for locating Deep Sky Objects (DSOs) using a telescope. The user seeks guidance on performing these calculations based on their specific location and telescope angle. It is established that using an equatorial mount with a tracking motor simplifies the process by allowing users to set the clock using the RA of a known star, thus eliminating the need for complex calculations of azimuth and elevation. Additionally, a free resource, "Astronomical Algorithms" by Jean Meeus, is recommended for further reading.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Right Ascension (RA) and Declination (Dec)
  • Familiarity with equatorial mounts and their operation
  • Knowledge of telescope tracking motors
  • Basic astronomy concepts related to Deep Sky Objects (DSOs)
NEXT STEPS
  • Research equatorial mounts and their benefits for amateur astronomers
  • Learn about telescope tracking motors and their specifications
  • Study the principles of sidereal time and its application in astronomy
  • Download and review "Astronomical Algorithms" by Jean Meeus for advanced calculations
USEFUL FOR

Astronomy enthusiasts, amateur astronomers, and Science Olympiad participants looking to enhance their telescope setup and improve their skills in locating Deep Sky Objects.

mathisrad
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TL;DR
How to find Right ascension and Declination in the night sky from my position.
I've been doing astronomy for Science Olympiad for a few years now and know all the basics about DSOs, HR diagrams, etc. However, I've only recently acquired a telescope since I thought it would be nice to locate some DSOs independently. I understand how RA and D are calculated, but I am not able to do so with respect to my position and telescope angle. Could anybody please tell me how to do this? I would appreciate it.
 
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What type of mount does your telescope have ?
Does it have a tracking motor ?
 
I was thinking about getting a tracking motor, and upgrading my setup in general, would you have any recommendations about a tracking motor?
 
mathisrad said:
I was thinking about getting a tracking motor, and upgrading my setup in general, would you have any recommendations about a tracking motor?
I have no recommendations. It will depend on what make, model, and size of telescope you have. Let us know.
There are others on this site who can help you with that.

If you had an equatorial mount, with a tracking motor, you could set the clock by using the RA of a known star.
You could then move to, and track a DSO, without needing to calculate the azimuth and elevation for your location, from the RA and Dec.
That would also avoid the need to know the exact time, or compute the sidereal time for your observation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidereal_time

There is a free download of "Astronomical Algorithms" by Jean Meeus.
https://archive.org/details/astronomicalalgorithmsjeanmeeus1991
 
Last edited:
Thanks!
 

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