How is it that the stars work as a compass? After all, the earth is moving so wouldn't the location of the stars change as well??
2006-07-11 09:14:58 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Well the earth rotates such that Polaris is always in the same place (hence the name "north star"). The position changes subtly, so in thousands of years, it won't be the north star anymore. But for the time being, you can tell which way is north just by looking at it.
You can also tell where about on earth you are depending on which constellations you see at certain times of year.
2006-07-11 09:18:59 · answer #1 · answered by M 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Each day, the Earth is rotating 360 degrees around its axis. So, if you see a star in a particular location at 9 pm one night, it is going to be in the relatively same area the next night as well. However, they are in a slightly different location every night because the Earth is travelling in its orbit and keeps changing by a large amount, relatively small to us because of the vastness of space. People still use stars as compasses because they can calculate the differences in location every night, and because the stars are stationary, just like the Sun.
Hope this helps:)
2006-07-11 09:23:47 · answer #2 · answered by IspeakToRocks 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A compass does not use stars, it uses the Earth's Magnetic field.
You are probably thinking of a sextant, which is used to measure the angle between the person holding the sextant and Polaris (the north star). Whatever the angle is, that is your latitude. This trick only works in the Northern hemisphere, it gets a lot harder ssouth of the equator (because every other star is moving EXCEPT the North Star).
2006-07-11 09:24:54 · answer #3 · answered by cognitively_dislocated 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The north star and things like consolations and what time of year it is. The north star works by the place it is in in the milky way. the Galaxy is constantly spinning and its axis is so close to the north star that is not detectable that it moves from here on earth. also other stars of groups like consolations are in the same place every year.
2006-07-11 10:02:10 · answer #4 · answered by centenial 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the simplest answer is that the north star lies directly over the north pole, consequently you can always find north on a clear night. Celestial navigation has been around since ships entered the water. Navigators only have to know the declination of a few major stars and be able to find their angles to know or find latitude. (declination is the stars "latitude" in space) A stars right ascension ( or celestial longitude) the time they rise nightly can help ppinpoint your location.
2006-07-11 09:45:58 · answer #5 · answered by orion_1812@yahoo.com 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look for the Big dipper. The two outermost stars, the ones on the far end of the bowl part of the dipper, align almost perfectly with Polaris. Polaris does move, but hardly much to notice. In a few thousand years, Polaris won't be our guide anymore.
2006-07-11 09:21:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The earth is rotating... the stars do not move. If you can find the North star, guess which direction it is in?
2006-07-11 09:18:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The stars can be used as a general guide. Polaris doesn't move much at all, so it can be used as a North guide.
2006-07-11 09:18:06 · answer #8 · answered by habaceeba 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just remember that he biggest shiniest star is the north star and now you have that you can s e and w ..
2006-07-11 09:22:16 · answer #9 · answered by caliboy80 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋