...the scientist in me says the sun should be at apogee at noon.

So in other words as long as the sun is overhead at local noon for Joey that is all that matters?

It's a pretty far leap to draw that conclusion.

 

It's a pretty far leap to draw that conclusion.

It's interesting you don't deny his 95% comment.

 

Don't you have to wander about between the two tropics, depending on the time of year, to have the sun overhead at noon?

 

Don't you have to wander about between the two tropics, depending on the time of year, to have the sun overhead at noon?

"Apogee" does not imply "overhead".

Edit: sorry, apogee is the wrong word. Meridian is more correct.

 

No, apogee seems an entirely inappropriate word.

 

"Apogee" does not imply "overhead".

Edit: sorry, apogee is the wrong word. Meridian is more correct.

No, apogee seems an entirely inappropriate word.

Zenith gentlemen, zenith.

 

Zenith gentlemen, zenith.

Thank you, sir.

 

Thank you, sir.

Having spent 17 years taking "fixes" (sun, moon, planets, stars) to ascertain our possition at sea, it is part of my vocabulary. Add others like almicantarat, azimuth, nadir plus the pletora of stars' names inherited from Arabic culture.

 

Having spent 17 years taking "fixes" (sun, moon, planets, stars) to ascertain our possition at sea, it is part of my vocabulary. Add others like almicantarat, azimuth, nadir plus the pletora of stars' names inherited from Arabic culture.

I know what Orion looks like. And Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus.

That's about it.

 

From my front balcony, in clear nights, I can see the Southern Cross plus Alpha & Beta Centauri (The pointers) following their eternal path around the celestial southern pole. From time to time I repeat the rite: extending the cross' main axis 3,5 times and then, from there, going straight down, I know the South pole direction.

For you, at latitude 26º N, finding the North should be much much easier (if clear of buildings and city lights) : identify Polaris and then go down to the horizon. That is the N. Pole direction. The easiest reference I know.

At sea, in clear nights and dry cold weather, the spectacle of the Milky Way was stunning and somewhat overwhelming.

 

For you, at latitude 26º N, finding the North should be much much easier (if clear of buildings and city lights) : identify Polaris and then go down to the horizon. That is the N. Pole direction. The easiest reference I know.

Even if the southeast Florida light pollution and nearly year-round high atmospheric moisture content fail to obscure most of the nighttime sky, the three large black olive trees on the north side of my property will prevent me from locating Polaris.

 

These should be able to deal with the olive trees.

 

These should be able to deal with the olive trees.

Which of those is the correct tool to saw through a four foot diameter trunk?

 

Is a vacant launch pad in C. Cañaveral an option?

 

Is a vacant launch pad in C. Cañaveral an option?

Easier: I can just drive 30 miles east into the Everglades where the sky is reasonably dark. But then one has to be wary of alligators. Or alligator-sized mosquitoes.

 

Actually, I enjoy playing with the Star Chart app on my mobile when I am outside at night. It helps me identify the things I'm looking at.

 

Actually, I enjoy playing with the Star Chart app on my mobile when I am outside at night. It helps me identify the things I'm looking at.

Is that how your app's called? I use SkEye and I'm quite pleased with it.

 

Here's how much light pollution there is in my vicinity. This is Orion through my phone with 10s exposure:

 

Is that how your app's called?

Yes.

 

Local meridian.

Here's how much light pollution there is in my vicinity. This is Orion through my phone with 10s exposure:

View attachment 174327

That's pretty sad. We have some prime stargazing locations near the house.
https://www.rosecityastronomers.net/event-particles/2016/2/10/rooster-rock

One of the darkest land-based places I've visited is near the old airfield in Tonopah NV.


My dark sky cheap camera images are useless to describe the sky.

My little kid was amazed at the dark.