Stars suitable for observation

Compiled By: Capt Sunil Bhabha

Different types of problems on stars suitable for observation & their stepwise solution is explained
below.

A. Which stars will be within a certain hour angle of the observer’s meridian at a given time?
1. Find out the SHA of an imaginary star which is on the observer’s meridian. The SHA of a star on
observer’s meridian can be obtained by keeping LHA Star = 0° or 360°.
2. Add and subtract the hour angle within which stars are to be found. This will give two values of
SHA. Take these values as limits of the SHA & check the stars from the table on page 268 of the
1992 almanac.
3. The table lists the stars in increasing order of SHA. Use the star names given on the right side
page of the table, these are English names. The names given on left side page are Latin names.
4. Remember stars with magnitude 1.0 or lower fall under First magnitude & magnitude 1.1 - 2.0
under second magnitude & so on.
5. If the time is not mentioned in the question then for AM use Nautical twilight starting time &
for PM use Civil twilight ending time.

B. Which of these stars will be visible to the observer OR suitable for taking sight?
1. The stars found within a certain hour angle may or may not be visible to the observer.
2. To find which ones are visible, calculate Latitude difference Declination (L~D) for each star.
3. If L~D is less than or equal to 90 the star will be visible & available for sight.
4. If L~D is greater than 90 the star will be below observer’s Rational Horizon & not visible.
5. If the time is not mentioned in the question then for AM use Nautical twilight starting time &
for PM use Civil twilight ending time.

The following table can be used to list the stars

Visible / Not
Star Magnitude SHA DEC L~D
visible

C. Which of these stars will be suitable for ex meridian sight?

1. All the visible stars may not be suitable for Ex Meridian sight.
2. To check if a star is suitable for Ex Meridian, calculate LHA and then angle ‘P’. ‘P’ will be either
equal to LHA or 360 – LHA.
3. Divide ‘P’ by 15° 02.5'. This will give time to/from Meridian Passage of the star.
4. If this time is within the ex meridian limit, this star is suitable.
5. Ex meridian limit is obtained from Norie’s Table (Ex meridian table I & IV). IF the Norie’s table is
not available, approximate limit in minutes can be obtained by L~D also.
6. If an hour angle is not mentioned in the question, you can check the stars falling within 20°
hour angle from the observer’s meridian for ex meridian suitability.

Capt Sunil Bhabha Page 1 of 3

The following table can be used to list the stars for ex meridian

Time to/from Ex meridian Suitable / Not

Star LHA P
Merpass limit Suitable

D. Which stars will cross the observer’s meridian during a given period of time & will be visible?
1. In these questions, time duration is specified in the question. In case of twilight the time
duration is to be obtained from the almanac.
2. Find out the SHA of an imaginary star which is on the observer’s meridian for starting time and
the ending time.
3. All the stars having SHA within this range will be crossing the observer’s meridian during this
period.
4. Out of these stars the ones having L~D less than or equal to 90 will be visible.
5. If the duration of time is not mentioned in the question then for AM use Start of Nautical
twilight to Start of Civil twilight & for PM use End of Civil twilight to End of Nautical twilight.

E. Which stars will cross the observer’s inferior meridian during a given period of time & will be
visible?
1. In these questions, time duration is specified in the question. In case of twilight the time
duration is to be obtained from the almanac.
2. Find out the SHA of an imaginary star which is on the observer’s INFERIOR MERIDIAN for
starting time and the ending time. The SHA of a star on Inferior meridian can be obtained by
keeping LHA Star = 180°.
3. All the stars having SHA within this range will be crossing the observer’s inferior meridian
during this period.
4. Out of these stars only those which are circumpolar will be visible to the observer. A star will
be circumpolar if L & D are of same name & L+D is greater than or equals 90.
5. If the duration of time is not mentioned in the question then for AM use Start of Nautical
twilight to Start of Civil twilight & for PM use End of Civil twilight to End of Nautical twilight.

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Capt Sunil Bhabha Page 2 of 3

 Practice Questions

1. On 29th November 1992 PM in DR 46° 23' N 092° 45' E what stars of 1st & 2nd magnitude or
planets will be within 45° of hour angle from the observer’s meridian?

2. On 30th November 1992 PM in DR 40° N 138° 15' W find the stars and planets up to magnitude
3.0 that are between meridian & one hour east of meridian above the pole, suitable for
observation.

3. On 1st December 92 between Jupiter & Canopus which one was brighter & how many times
brighter than the other?

4. A ship in DR 52° S 080° 45' W on 28th Feb 92. Find the 1st magnitude stars that will cross the
observer’s meridian above & below the pole & which will be above the observer’s rational
horizon during PM Nautical twilight.

5. On 19th Jan 92 in DR 40° 28' S 170° 34' W find which stars of magnitude 2 & brighter will be
available for observation below the pole between 1800 hrs & 1900 hrs LMT.

6. On 3rd March 92 PM at ship in DR 52° S 080° 45' W find the 1st magnitude stars that will cross
the observer’s meridian above & below pole during nautical twilight & are suitable for
observation.

7. On 14th Oct 92 AM at ship in DR 42° 10' N 170° 10' E find 1st & 2nd magnitude stars that will
cross observer’s meridian from beginning of nautical twilight to beginning of civil twilight.

8. On 15th June 92 in position 20° N 075° E which all stars & planets of 1st & 2nd magnitude will be
within 15° of the observer’s meridian. Which of them will be available for observation & which
can be used for ex meridian? The observation is to be made at end of PM civil twilight.

9. Which stars & planets of magnitude 2 & 3 will cross the observer’s meridian above the pole, in
position 40° N 030° E on 23rd Aug 92 between 0500 -0600 LMT?

10. In position 40° 10' N 121° 15' E find the stars (2nd magnitude & brighter) & planets crossing
observer’s meridian & his inferior meridian between 1800-1900 ship’s time (time zone – 0800
h) on 21 Sept 92.

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Capt Sunil Bhabha Page 3 of 3