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, the cities of Rabat in Morocco and Beirut in Lebanon can use the NASA Star Finder even though they are at the same latitude as Los Angeles, California, but further east on Earth.
The NASA Star Finder, also known as a planisphere, is a tool that helps people determine which stars and constellations are visible in the night sky at a specific time and location. It consists of a circular chart that corresponds to the night sky and can be adjusted to match the observer's time and date.
The key factor in using a star finder is the observer's latitude, which affects the visibility of stars and constellations in the sky. Latitude measures the distance north or south of the Earth's equator. While Rabat, Beirut, and Los Angeles are all at the same latitude (34° N), they are at different longitudes (east-west positions) on Earth.
Even though the cities are at different longitudes, the latitude of 34° N means that they are all in the same general geographic zone where the star patterns in the night sky are similar. Therefore, they can use the same star finder charts designed for that latitude.
To use the NASA Star Finder, an observer in Rabat or Beirut would align the circular chart to the date and time they wish to view the sky. They would then hold the star finder overhead, aligning the part of the chart representing the northern horizon with the actual northern horizon they see. By rotating the star finder, they can identify the stars and constellations visible in the night sky from their location.
It's worth noting that the star finder is most accurate when used at the specified latitude, but it can still be useful in nearby locations. So, while Rabat and Beirut are further east than Los Angeles, they can still use the NASA Star Finder designed for 34° N latitude.