Description

This simulation illustrates how local astronomical coordinates (altitude and azimuth) map onto the sky. The left view shows a 3D depiction of the dome of the sky with a alt-az coordinate grid displayed. The observer is located at the center of the green horizon disk, with arrows indicating the cardinal directions. The right view shows a sky view (like a star map) with alt-az grid and cardinal directions indicated along the green horizon circle.

The altitude and azimuth controls determine the direction of the magenta arrow (in the 3D view) and the location on the sky of the magenta spot (in the sky view). Test stars can be displayed (in both views) so that the user can determine the local coordinates of some known objects in order to practice working with local coordinates.