Hi,
New here. New to stargazing. I've got a question:
Since Polaris & Southern Cross are so low in Singapore. Is there any easy way to find direction without a compass at night?
How to find direction?
Hi extraterrestrial, welcome to the forum.
To answer ur question, in the first place u can actually see the southern cross ( a.k.a. crux). in Singapore. If u hav a clear unobstructed horizon or observe from rooftop.
1) Crux and the little dipper is known as circumpolar constellation, which mean to say u can see both constellations regardless of wat month it is. These two constellations are near the south celestial pole n north celestial pole respectively.
2) To find south pole, draw an imaginary line from gamma cruxis to Acrux. Draw an imaginary line to perpendicularly bisect the 2 stars Alpha n Beta Centauri. The point of intersection is veri near south pole. There is a veri faint star known as sigma octantis near SCP.
3) To find north pole, identify big dipper first. Draw an imaginary line through stars, Merak n Dubhe n u get to pole star polaris.
:roll: 8) 
P.s. I know this sound a little 'chim' but never mind slowly learn the constellations n soon u will be navigating through the celestial. sea.
To answer ur question, in the first place u can actually see the southern cross ( a.k.a. crux). in Singapore. If u hav a clear unobstructed horizon or observe from rooftop.
1) Crux and the little dipper is known as circumpolar constellation, which mean to say u can see both constellations regardless of wat month it is. These two constellations are near the south celestial pole n north celestial pole respectively.
2) To find south pole, draw an imaginary line from gamma cruxis to Acrux. Draw an imaginary line to perpendicularly bisect the 2 stars Alpha n Beta Centauri. The point of intersection is veri near south pole. There is a veri faint star known as sigma octantis near SCP.
3) To find north pole, identify big dipper first. Draw an imaginary line through stars, Merak n Dubhe n u get to pole star polaris.
:roll: 8) P.s. I know this sound a little 'chim' but never mind slowly learn the constellations n soon u will be navigating through the celestial. sea.
Re: How to find direction?
If your north and south are blocked, the sword of Orion forms a line in the North-South direction (head towards north)Extraterrestrial wrote:Hi,
New here. New to stargazing. I've got a question:
Since Polaris & Southern Cross are so low in Singapore. Is there any easy way to find direction without a compass at night?
If the sky is cloudy, check the road directory. The light pollution is so bad here that you should not have problems reading it :-P
Kay Heem
-
Extraterrestrial
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Sat Jul 17, 2004 11:47 am
Thanks for the replies. 
Actually I have read about crux & ursa minor recently. I bought the book "The Stars: A new way to see them" by H. A. Rey. But since the book was written for ppl in high latitudes, was wondering how to apply the technique in singapore. So now I know we can actually see the cross & big dipper here. I was worried that our city light would drown the horizon.
Have been wanting to look at the sky, but it's always cloudy.
Hope to join you guys for some stargazing. Are those SP Obs sessions open to public? I stay in Holland Rd, so SP is really convenient. I am just worried that I'm over-aged. :?:
Actually I have read about crux & ursa minor recently. I bought the book "The Stars: A new way to see them" by H. A. Rey. But since the book was written for ppl in high latitudes, was wondering how to apply the technique in singapore. So now I know we can actually see the cross & big dipper here. I was worried that our city light would drown the horizon.
Have been wanting to look at the sky, but it's always cloudy.
Hope to join you guys for some stargazing. Are those SP Obs sessions open to public? I stay in Holland Rd, so SP is really convenient. I am just worried that I'm over-aged. :?:
<sorry for the off-topic>
luke5v8,
I'm a sp student, so naturally i'll be there for the friday sessions. Usually we will hang around our clubhouse first as early as 5pm (All classes ends then). Then we'll have dinner together before checking out the sky. If its good, then we're in business. If not, we'll either slack in the clubhouse or make our way to the pool centre in clementi for a game or two before going back. There's no way to tell when we are going to end. If the observation is on, then we'll sometimes rush to catch the last train. Usually its around 10+pm.
Regards,
Sam
luke5v8,
I'm a sp student, so naturally i'll be there for the friday sessions. Usually we will hang around our clubhouse first as early as 5pm (All classes ends then). Then we'll have dinner together before checking out the sky. If its good, then we're in business. If not, we'll either slack in the clubhouse or make our way to the pool centre in clementi for a game or two before going back. There's no way to tell when we are going to end. If the observation is on, then we'll sometimes rush to catch the last train. Usually its around 10+pm.
Regards,
Sam
We are the Borg, Resistance is Futile!