GB2183393A

GB2183393A - A device for locating and identifying stars

Info

Publication number: GB2183393A
Application number: GB08607323A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Michael Stewart Owers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-05-23
Filing date: 1986-03-25
Publication date: 1987-06-03
Also published as: GB2183393B; GB8607323D0

Abstract

A device (1) for locating and identifying stars in the night sky comprises a map (3) of the night sky and reflector means (9) located opposite the map (3) so as to reflect a section of the map (3). The reflector means is movable relative to the map. As shown the map consists of an internally illuminated globe (2). The reflector consists of a mirror which carries a first sighting device (10) which can be sighted onto a particular constellation or heavenly body in the night sky. A second sighting device (11) positioned between the map (3) and the reflector (9) is for sighting a corresponding constellation or heavenly body in the reflected map. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device for locating and identifying stars The present invention relates to a device for locating and identifying stars and other heavenly bodies in the night sky and to a method of using said device.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for locating and identifying stars in the night sky comprising a map of the night sky, and reflector means located opposite the map so as to reflect a section of the map, which reflector means is movable relative thereto.

Preferably, lighting means are provided to illuminatethe map.

Preferably, the map is translucent and the lighting means is located behind it relative to the reflector.

Preferably, the map is comprised of a globe with the lighting means located insidethe globeandthe lighting means is comprised of an electric light bulb which is powered by an electrical battery.

Preferably, the reflector is comprised of a mirror which may be capable of magnifying the image reflected therein.

Preferably, the reflector comprises a sighting device which can be sighted onto a particularconstellation or heavenly body in the night sky, and a second sighting device is positioned between the map and the reflectorwhich sights the corresponding constellation or heavenly body on the map as reflected in the reflector.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of using the device according to the first aspect of the present invention in which a first constellation or heavenly body in the sky is matched with the corresponding constellation or heavenly body marked on a map, the map is fixed in position relative to the earth and reflector means located opposite the map is moved relative to the map so that the image reflected in the reflector means always corresponds to the section of night sky towards which the reflector points.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a schematic view of a device according to the present invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing the device 1 comprises a translucent globe 2 upon which various constallations and heavenly bodies 3 are marked in their relative positions to each other in the night sky. The globe 2 is secured to a handle 4 and is illuminated from within by a small electric light bulb 5 which is powered by electric batteries 6 located within the handle 4. A shield 7 partially covers one side ofthe globe 2 and ensuresthatonlythe unshiel ded side ofthe globe 2 is visibly illuminated. From the shield 7 extends an arm Bwhich carrier a magnifying mirror 9 in which the unshielded side ofthe globe 2 is reflected.The shield 7, together with the arm 8can be moved relative to the globe 2 about both the longitudinal and the lateral axes thereof, and thus the mirror 9 can be positioned opposite any section ofthe globe 2. The mirror 9 is angled slightly upwards andthusthe magnified markings 3 ofthe globe 2 reflected in it can be seen overthetop of the globe 2 through the space between the top ofthe shield 7 and the top ofthe mirror 9. Afirstsighting device 10 is positioned directly above the mirror9 and a second sighting device 11 is carried bythe arm 8 in the space between the globe 2 and the mirror9.

The first sighting device 10 may comprise a simple projection above the line ofthe mirror 9 which can be aligned between the users eye andthe objectto be sighted. The second sighting device 11 is comprised of a simple targeting cross. The targeting cross is, of course, superimposed overthe section ofthe globe 2 reflected in the mirror 9.

In use the device 1 is held by the handle 4 and the mirror9 is swung towards the stars. The globe 2 is then turned about its vertical axis until a constellation or heavenly body appearing in the night sky is shown inthesection oftheglobe2 reflected inthe mirror 9. The sighting device 10 carried by the mirror 9 is then sighted onto the constellation in the sky and the second sighting device 11 is sighted onto there flection of that constellation in the mirror 9. Once one body in the night sky has been matched to the corresponding body shown on the globe 2 further bodies can be simply identified by keeping the globe 2fixed in position relative to the earth and moving the mirror 9 relative thereto.Each constellation which is sighted in the sighting device 10 carried by the mirror9will be sighted by the sighting device 11 carriedbythearm8overthereflection inthemirror 9.

It will be appreciated that by providing written information concerning each constellation alongside it on the globe 2 the device according to the present invention provides a simple, yet highly effective means for identifying and learning the names and relative positions of the constellations and heavenly bodies appearing in the nightsky.

1. A device for locating and identifying stars in the night sky comprising a map of the night sky, and reflector means located opposite the map so as to reflect a section of the map, which reflector means is movable relative thereto.

2. A device for locating and identifying stars as claimed in claim 1 wherein lighting means are provides to illuminate the map.

3. Adevicefor locating and identifying stars as claimed in claim 1 orclaim2whereinthemapis translucent and the lighting means is located behind it relative to the reflector.

4. A device for locating and identifying stars as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the map is comprised of a globe with the lighting means located inside the globe and the lighting means is comprised of an electric light bulb which is powered by an electrical battery.

5. A device for locating and identifying stars as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the reflector is comprised of a mirror which may be capable of magnifying the image reflected therein.

6. A device for locating and identifying stars as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the reflector

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A device for locating and identifying stars The present invention relates to a device for locating and identifying stars and other heavenly bodies in the night sky and to a method of using said device. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for locating and identifying stars in the night sky comprising a map of the night sky, and reflector means located opposite the map so as to reflect a section of the map, which reflector means is movable relative thereto. Preferably, lighting means are provided to illuminatethe map. Preferably, the map is translucent and the lighting means is located behind it relative to the reflector. Preferably, the map is comprised of a globe with the lighting means located insidethe globeandthe lighting means is comprised of an electric light bulb which is powered by an electrical battery. Preferably, the reflector is comprised of a mirror which may be capable of magnifying the image reflected therein. Preferably, the reflector comprises a sighting device which can be sighted onto a particularconstellation or heavenly body in the night sky, and a second sighting device is positioned between the map and the reflectorwhich sights the corresponding constellation or heavenly body on the map as reflected in the reflector. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of using the device according to the first aspect of the present invention in which a first constellation or heavenly body in the sky is matched with the corresponding constellation or heavenly body marked on a map, the map is fixed in position relative to the earth and reflector means located opposite the map is moved relative to the map so that the image reflected in the reflector means always corresponds to the section of night sky towards which the reflector points. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a schematic view of a device according to the present invention. Referring to the accompanying drawing the device 1 comprises a translucent globe 2 upon which various constallations and heavenly bodies 3 are marked in their relative positions to each other in the night sky. The globe 2 is secured to a handle 4 and is illuminated from within by a small electric light bulb 5 which is powered by electric batteries 6 located within the handle 4. A shield 7 partially covers one side ofthe globe 2 and ensuresthatonlythe unshiel ded side ofthe globe 2 is visibly illuminated. From the shield 7 extends an arm Bwhich carrier a magnifying mirror 9 in which the unshielded side ofthe globe 2 is reflected.The shield 7, together with the arm 8can be moved relative to the globe 2 about both the longitudinal and the lateral axes thereof, and thus the mirror 9 can be positioned opposite any section ofthe globe 2. The mirror 9 is angled slightly upwards andthusthe magnified markings 3 ofthe globe 2 reflected in it can be seen overthetop of the globe 2 through the space between the top ofthe shield 7 and the top ofthe mirror 9. Afirstsighting device 10 is positioned directly above the mirror9 and a second sighting device 11 is carried bythe arm 8 in the space between the globe 2 and the mirror9. The first sighting device 10 may comprise a simple projection above the line ofthe mirror 9 which can be aligned between the users eye andthe objectto be sighted. The second sighting device 11 is comprised of a simple targeting cross. The targeting cross is, of course, superimposed overthe section ofthe globe 2 reflected in the mirror 9. In use the device 1 is held by the handle 4 and the mirror9 is swung towards the stars. The globe 2 is then turned about its vertical axis until a constellation or heavenly body appearing in the night sky is shown inthesection oftheglobe2 reflected inthe mirror 9. The sighting device 10 carried by the mirror 9 is then sighted onto the constellation in the sky and the second sighting device 11 is sighted onto there flection of that constellation in the mirror 9. Once one body in the night sky has been matched to the corresponding body shown on the globe 2 further bodies can be simply identified by keeping the globe 2fixed in position relative to the earth and moving the mirror 9 relative thereto.Each constellation which is sighted in the sighting device 10 carried by the mirror9will be sighted by the sighting device 11 carriedbythearm8overthereflection inthemirror 9. It will be appreciated that by providing written information concerning each constellation alongside it on the globe 2 the device according to the present invention provides a simple, yet highly effective means for identifying and learning the names and relative positions of the constellations and heavenly bodies appearing in the nightsky. CLAIMS

6. A device for locating and identifying stars as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the reflector comprises a sighting device which can be sighted onto a particularconstellation or heavenly body in the night sky, and a second sighting device is positioned between the map and the reflector which sights the corresponding constellation or heavenly body on the map as reflected in the reflector.

7. A method of using the device according to the first aspect of the present invention in which a first constellation or heavenly body in the sky is matched with the corresponding constellation or heavenly body marked on a map, the map is fixed in position relative to the earth and reflector means located opposite the map is moved relative to the map so that the image reflected in the reflector means always corresponds to the section of night sky towards which the reflector points.