How would a person go about finding what the positions of the sun, moon, or certain stars were relative to the

Question

earth at a particular time in the past. Or for that matter, how would someone find a date based on celestial observations made at an unknown time. For example, how would we find out in which years Passover arrived after sunset Wednesday or sunset Friday between A.D. 23 and A.D. 43? I'm not looking for a general answer, I'd like know how to rapidly obtain the necessary calculations/ information.

Answer 1

The Astronomical Almanac published by the US Naval Observatory will have the information you need. Many libraries have it, especially at universities.

Positions of stars in the past is trickier. You would need to look up the "proper motion" of the stars in question in a catalog and then multiply that number by the number of years to adjust the coordinates.

The Hipparchos catalog is probably the largest most accurate single source currently available, acessible through Simbad.

Keep in mind that over recorded human history, even the fastest moving stars have only shifted a few degrees at most.

Answer 2

Find an almanac from that period. For your example, Passover is a ritual that occurs the same lunar time every year. The Jewish calendar of old was based on lunar cycles. Passover was in the middle of the month of Nisan or sometimes called the month Abib. On the 15th. So Passover began at sundown on what we would know as the 14th.

Answer 3

God is the God of all creation. something that God creates brings Glory to Him. "enable the heavens have fun, enable the earth be chuffed, enable the sea resound, and all it particularly is in it; enable the fields be jubilant, and each thing in them. Then each and all of the wood of the wooded area will sing for exhilaration; they are going to sing till now the Lord." (Psalm ninety six:eleven-13) it may desire to no longer make experience in a non religious concept, yet God created each thing to deliver Glory to His call. From an earthly attitude this could sound stupid, how can issues that don't breathe or think of compliment God. think of roughly artwork. If Michael Angelo or Picasso create a portray or sculpture that are perfect previous words, does this no longer replicate, in a favorable way, on the artist. properly God grow to be (is) the artist (writer) of all issues. each thing he created grow to be a element of elegance. Now i'm speaking approximately whilst it grow to be created, no longer unavoidably after sin entered creation.

Answer 4

Well, I just clicked back to the seventies on my KStars simulator. Couldn't figure out how to plug in the date, but it must be possible. So, if you have access to a Linux machine, you can do it free and easy.

Answer 5

This site will display the sky at a date and time and from a location of your choosing.