This Slide Show Will Help You to Learn How to Use Stellarium A free planetarium program that you can download, install on your computer and use to learn the night sky. We will use this program in the TAAS Fabulous 50 program. This program is designed to get you started with using Stellarium 24 Jan 15 TAAS Fabulous

What is Stellarium?

A FREE night sky planetarium program. The program allows you to (1) set your - observing location (use Albuquerque) - date of observing - time of day. (2) identify objects (3) find objects What is Stellarium?

You need to log into Install the program on your computer and then follow the instructions from the next slides on how to use the program. Choose your operating system and then you can download the program You can also download a “User Guide” How Do I Obtain Stellarium?

We will now learn how to the use STELLARIUM. You can use STELLARIUM to plan your observing sessions. When you return to the computer after observing, You can use it to confirm your observations.

How to Use Stellarium When we first open STELLARIUM on the computer this screen will appear. The appearance of the sky will reflect the time of day that you open the program. Noon10 pm

There are two menus that we use to properly configure STELLARIUM. Placing the cursor on the bottom of the page will make the bottom menu appear. How to Use Stellarium (cont.)

Placing the cursor on the left side of the page will make the second menu appear. How to Use Stellarium (cont.)

Placing the cursor over each symbol will give you the name of the symbol. This shows the “Date/time window”. How to Use Stellarium (cont.)

We begin by setting the correct date and time. First we click on the Date/time symbol. This brings up the “Date and Time” window.

How to Use Stellarium (cont.) To change the settings click on the small symbols to either increase the setting or decrease the setting + _ This example shows how to change the year. You can also change the month and day and the hour minute and second month day hour minute second This means you can look back at the night sky on the day that you were born. year

How to Use Stellarium (cont.) To change the direction you are observing depress and hold the cursor as you drag it across the screen. Note how the position of Sirius changes as you move your cursor from left to right - in the left photo when looking east - in the right photo when looking south.

How to Use Stellarium (cont.) We shall next set the location for your observing session. Click on the location window on the left side of the screen. The “Location” window will appear.

How to Use Stellarium (cont.) Use the slide bar to select your location (Albuquerque, United States). The latitude and longitude will appear and a red arrow will appear on the map. Clicking the “Use as default” will lock in the location for your next session.

How to Use Stellarium (cont.) To show the constellation lines and labels click both symbols on the bottom menu. The constellation lines and labels will appear

How to Use Stellarium (cont.) To identify an object click on the object. A circle appears around the object. The name of the object appears in the upper left hand corner. Detailed information is Provided below the name. To close out the information right click the mouse.

How to Use Stellarium (cont.) To find the location of an object, click on the Search window. The “Find Object or Position” box appears.

How to Use Stellarium (cont.) Type in the name of the object. A circle appears around the object and the information about the object appears in the upper left hand corner. To close out the information right click the mouse.

How to Use Stellarium (cont.) To label objects in the sky click on the Sky and viewing options window. The “View” window appears.

How to Use Stellarium (cont.) Click on the boxes to label the stars and planets. You can also set the brightness level of stars and deep sky objects (DSO’s) Other options are also available.

Now we will turn our attention to patterns in the sky. We will look for four star patterns which will be a part of these constellations. Observing Star Patterns OrionCanis Major Gemini Canis Minor

Observing Star Patterns using Stellarium Orion Canis MajorGemini Canis Minor

CANIS MAJOR Is also know as the “BIG DOG.” It contains the brightest star in the sky SIRIUS which is sometimes called the DOG STAR. Observing Star Patterns - CANIS MAJOR

Locating Canis Major Look SOUTHEAST find SIRIUS It is in CANIS MAJOR We also observe Betelgeuse and Rigel in Orion and Procyon in Canis Minor SE

Observing Star Patterns - ORION ORION is a very easy to recognize constellation that is visible from both the northern and southern hemisphere. It has two very brilliant stars RIGEL and everyone’s favorite star BETELGEUSE (reddish color). It contains the naked eye visible nebula M 42. It appears as the middle “star” of Orion's sword.

The naked eye visible nebula M 42. New stars are being formed in this region that is 1,500 light years distant. This is also called Messier 42 “The Great Orion Nebula.” ORION

Locating Orion Look SOUTHEAST Find SIRIUS It is below ORION In Orion we observe Rigel Betelgeuse and the three stars that form the “BELT” of Orion SE

Observing Star Patterns - GEMINI GEMINI the twins contains the two “twin stars” CASTOR and POLLUX. It is near the star PROCYON in CANIS MINOR which is know as the “LITTLE DOG”. To the right of Gemini is Betelgeuse

Locating Gemini Look SOUTHEAST find SIRIUS it is below and to the right of GEMINI We also observe Rigel and Betelgeuse in Orion and Procyon (in CANIS MINOR) SE

This completes the basic instructions on how to use Stellarium It might be helpful for you to review this presentation several times to get familiar with Stellarium You may address any questions/suggestions to Clear skies!

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