how do i predict star positions using star charts?

Answer 1

Star charts provide a static map based on two coordinates:

Right Ascension (in hours, minutes, and seconds, range 0:00:00 to 23:59:59)
Angle of Declination (in degrees +90 to -90)

Angle of Declination is the easiest to explain - it's the number of degrees from 0 to 90 that a star is above or below the celestial equator. (Positives are north, negatives are south.)

The hour of right ascension: the zero point is known as the vernal equinox point (also known as the First Point of Aries), which is the place in the sky where the Sun crosses the celestial equator at the March equinox. The sky is charted from there.

Answer 2

well most star charts will give the dates on which they are the most accurate. you will also notice that most charts seem to be backwards, in other words if you look at them the directions seems to be mixed up, east and west aren't where they are supposed to be. this is because the charts are meant to show you what is in the sky. if you hold them up so that north is still north but east and west are also pointing where they should be then you should have a good idea what is in the sky.

if there is a bright object in the sky that is not on the chart then it is likely a planet. the size of the stars on the chart indicates their relative brightness. and of course the chart is supposed to cover the whole sky not just one little patch so the constellations and stars will be more spread out than they seem on the chart.

hope this helps

Answer 3

Star charts are used just for that propose; they show where the stars will be at a given point in time.

Answer 4

A really good star chart allows you to select a date / time in the future or past. It will then display the celestial coordinates for that date / time for the object you're interested in. One good online, free website for doing just this is at this address ==>http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/