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How to Determine the Relevant Date for a Star Chart

-- | September 19, 2015

Question: How can I find the date from a given star-chart? — Anand

Answer: In the following I am going to assume that you are using a star chart appropriate for the mid-latitudes in the northern hemisphere. The easiest way to determine what date a particular star chart refers to is first know the approximate dates that a few bright stars transit at midnight:

Pollux: January 15
Regulus: February 22
Arcturus: April 25
Vega: July 1
Deneb: August 1
Aldebaran: December 1
Capella: December 10

If your star chart has any of these stars near transit then the date for that star chart is likely very close to the relevant date listed above.

Jeff Mangum

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