Talk:Celestial pole

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I believe that wikipedia needs more information on this subject. It is an amazing thing.

i think this website is very useful for help in my science work.

[edit] celestial pole + ID

I read this http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051014/MTCN0405/310140013/1314 and it says that the celestial poles are part of our intelligent designer communicating to us. I came to this article to try and find out what he was talking about, but I'm still unclear.

[edit] Equilateral Triangles

Although two points do define the size of an equilateral triangle, on which side of the line joining the two points should the third point be placed? Yes, I know, the side that has the south celestial pole. But, which side is that? NickyMcLean 03:36, 23 September 2006 (UTC)

Looking at Starry Night, it seems that if you can also identify Alpha Centauri, the third brightest 'star' (actually a cluster) in the sky and the closest star to Earth, then it would make (roughly) an isoceles triangle, in the same general direction as the southern cross, with the same 2 baseline stars. The southern celestial pole (SCP) is the imaginary equilateral point inside the long isoceles. Other option is to have a rough guess on the location of the SCP (or south) and this baseline will confirm and improve it. Also, if you live in that general area, just remember from night to night (it will change very slowly between seasons) where the SCP is relative to the baseline (e.g. "to the upper right"). This is all WP:OR but I am sure someone can find it somewhere and confirm it, or add other ways (some are mentioned in southern cross). Crum375 12:26, 23 September 2006 (UTC)

Here is another way. Assume you can actually identify each of the 2 baseline stars, Canopus and Achernar, using their neighbors or some other means. In that case, start from Canopus, go (in your imagination) to Achernar, and then hang a 60 degree right turn towards the third imaginary point on the equilateral triangle, which will be the SCP. Of course if you can see the southern cross, it will also point at the SCP, so that will another confirmation. This is all WP:OR per Starry Night. Crum375 02:01, 25 September 2006 (UTC)