How do you calculate sidereal time form local time, with exact time zone known?

Question

Furthermore, there should be a way to calculate the exact point of the sun sign on which the eastern horizon falls at a given sidereal time; I need to get this answer to the highest possible degree of accuracy. (e.g. Libra 03 45' 53")

Answer 1

Hi. The best way is with meridian crossings of stars. There is no 'exact time zone'. It is an arbitrary human invention. UTC is better. http://www.answers.com/topic/universal-time . And do not forget that the atmosphere causes refraction so objects that are actually below the horizon are still visible.

Answer 2

It is a waste of energy trying to calculate motion when all we have to use as a measuring tool is man made timing devices. There is no element in the universe that we call time. Science had to have clocks in order to measure speed and distance, these devices were created 13.5 billion years after the first motion took place. Substitute the word motion for the word time, and everything is easier to undersatand and the theory of relativity is not affected. If you would like more of my views on this subject, contact me at [e-mail] Type "What is Time? in the subject box and I will send it as an attachment in my reply.

Answer 3

RE: Calculating Local Sidereal Time from local time? I'm trying to write a Unix programming script that will calculate Local Sidereal Time (LST) for particular places and times. I know you need the longitude of the location, but I don't know how to actually calculate LST from Longitude and local time. Thanks

Answer 4

Perhaps a better question is "WHY would you want to calculate sidereal time?" I've been heavily into astronomy for 50 years and not once in that time have I ever wanted or needed to know the sidereal time. It really has no practical use. If I really wanted to know it, I'd just look it up in Starry Night, and let the software calculate it for me.