[amsat-bb] Re: Dont loose the north

[Luc Leblanc]

Thank's for those who correct me The north star is in Ursa minor constellation 
(not major) and for the half a degree or one error from the real north pole but 
as stated we can live with it and i should wrote also to be able to confirm the 
north with a GPS you should move away from your point towards Polaris this way 
your GPS will show you a direction pointing to the star.

As my main topic was about not loosing the north... that's the minimum i can 
wished you all in 2008. I am not too sure if wishing an Happy New Year is still 
relevant? Should we wished us all a better new year instead? In french we 
wished us good and happy new year  (freely translated) a bit more realistic but 
lets say the goals are the same only the means differs.

Here is some help to understand the North Star.

Today the Earth's axis points within one degree of Polaris, the brightest star 
in the constellation Ursa Minor (also called the Little Bear or the Little 
Dipper). Polaris appears to be in a fixed position in the sky throughout the 
year. All other stars and constellations seem to revolve around the North Star.

In the case of the earth, precession is caused by the gravitational pull of the 
sun and the moon. The earth's axis makes one complete rotation over the course 
of approximately 26,000 years. If you trace the path of the axis in the sky, 
you will find that Polaris, Vega, Thuban, and Alpha Cephei all fall on or very 
close to it. So when the earth's axis is at a point on the path near Vega, Vega 
becomes the North Star while Thuban is the North Star when the axis is near it 
on the path.

Five thousand years ago, Thuban was the North Star. Five thousand years from 
now, the North Star will be Alpha Cephei. Seven thousand years after that, it 
will be Vega. Nine thousand years after that, Thuban will be the North Star 
again. At these dates, the various stars will be at the closest to absolute 
north. For some time before, the relevant star will be approaching due north 
and it will be receding for some time after the time listed. In these interim 
times, the North Star is whichever star is closest to north. 


"-"
P.S. The North pole cap is melting too...just a reminder when you will give 
your new year wishes!  As i said don't loose the North ;)

Luc Leblanc VE2DWE
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www.qsl.net/ve2dwe
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