STAR-FINDER 2102-D

• ‌Concept of the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office
  
• Graphical representation of the 57 selected fixed stars
  

The STAR-FINDER is a concept of the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office and graphically displays the altitude and azimuth of the 57 selected fixed stars of the Nautical Almanac.

The variable positions of the sun, moon and planets can be marked separately.

Why use the star globe or star finder?

Star globes or star finders are suitable for the alternating conversion of celestial to horizontal coordinates of the stars.

Question:

Where is this or that star at my current position? The celestial coordinates: Local hour angle and declination from the nautical yearbook are set accordingly on the star globe or finder. The horizontal coordinates are now read at the location of the star found in this way: Azimuth, i.e. direction, and altitude. Conversely, the altitude and direction can be used to deduce the celestial coordinates and thus the name of the unknown star. This facilitates astronavigation with the sextant:

For example, you can observe an unknown star between wispy clouds. The sextant altitude and approximate direction are determined. Now it is possible to find celestial coordinates and star names to calculate the line of sight.

Venus, which is invisible to the naked eye in the daytime sky, should be located with the sextant. Star globes or finders are used to determine altitude and direction. Venus can now be located using the sextant optics.

The use of navigation computers, which often have corresponding functions, is also particularly convenient.

Scope of delivery:

• 1 x double-sided base plate for northern and southern hemisphere
  
• 9 x transparent altitude/azimuth charts for 10 latitude intervals
  
• 1 x transparent altitude chart
  
• English operating instructions
  
• Plastic bag