The cities of Rabat in Morocco and Beirut in Lebanon are both at the 34° N latitude, same as Los Angeles, California, but further east on Earth. Can they use the NASA Star Finder?
yes they can use it as is
Yes, the cities of Rabat in Morocco and Beirut in Lebanon, being at the same latitude of 34° N as Los Angeles, California, can use the NASA Star Finder. The Star Finder, also known as a planisphere, is a handy tool used to identify the positions of stars and celestial objects at a specific time and location.
To use the NASA Star Finder, you need to follow these steps:
1. Determine the date and time for which you want to observe the night sky.
2. Set the date on the Star Finder by rotating the outer rim until the desired month and day are aligned with the current date.
3. Find the approximate time of your observation. On the Star Finder, there is a window displaying hours, which corresponds to the local sidereal time. You can adjust this window based on your longitude.
4. Identify your latitude on the Star Finder by looking for the curved line on the main disc that represents your latitude. In this case, you would align the 34° N line with the outer rim of the Star Finder.
5. Once you have set the date, time, and latitude, hold the Star Finder above your head and align it with the direction you are facing or the celestial object you wish to locate.
6. The Star Finder will display the positions of the stars and constellations in the sky at that specific time and location.
Using the Star Finder, people in Rabat, Beirut, or any other location at 34° N latitude can observe the same stars and constellations visible from Los Angeles, despite being further east on Earth. It is a useful tool for stargazers, astronomers, and anyone interested in identifying celestial objects in the night sky.