Day and Night Sky

The applet TLPSHorizon listens to the Observer and the TimeBase applet. By changing the epoch or the observer, the visualization applet updates the new positions. Remember that time and date in the Calendar applet (TimeBase) represent UTC.

Pluto's orbit is determined by osculating orbital elements as of July 11, 1997.

The stellar positions are taken from FK5 (Fundamental Katalog No. 5). FK5 contains 1535 stars with highly accurate positions. Thus some binary stars have been omitted although shining bright enough to pass the magnitude filter (initially 4.5 mag). To complete some of the constellations a few stars have been added from a different source ("The Guinness Book of Astronomy"). But probably you'll still find incomplete constellations, especially in the southern sky.

Drag the mouse to the right or to the left border to get another viewing direction along the horizon. Drag it to the top to see the zenith region or drag it to the bottom to lower the vertical viewing direction. You may even have a slight look beyond the horizon (green line) to get an impression which stars or planets are going to rise or have already set (Viewing direction East or West)

Click into the small area in the upper left to decrease the stars' magnitude or click into the upper right region to increase the magnitude of stars being drawn.

First enter the longitude (eastwards positive) and the latitude (northwards positive) of your location on earth and then watch the graphics which will show the actual sky. Change date/time or your location and see the stars and planets wander around.

Enjoy the applet(s)!

Dieter Egger, 1998-02-14