Latitude and sidereal time
Each question shows the whole sky above a real place at a moment we do not name, and you work out the latitude of the place or the local sidereal time from the stars.
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| Question | Asked | Right | Typical error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latitude | 0 | ||
| Sidereal time | 0 |
How this mode works
In the planetarium round the sky is often shown without saying where or when it was seen. The height of the celestial pole above the horizon equals the latitude, and the right ascension of the stars on the meridian, the line from the north point through the zenith to the south point, equals the local sidereal time. A latitude counts when it is within 5° of the true one, and a sidereal time when it is within 1 hour. After each answer the chart marks the pole or draws the meridian, and the feedback names the place. Questions about the date and the clock time will follow.