I really should know this...

Dear Astronomy Experts
I was looking at the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) and thought, when I look at the
North star, does the apparent motion of the stars around it appear to rotate
clockwise or counter clockwise?
Thanks

It's counterclockwise.

Saul Levy


On Sat, 6 Aug 2005 21:27:45 -0700, "Internet Traveler"
wrote:

Dear Astronomy Experts
I was looking at the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) and thought, when I look at the
North star, does the apparent motion of the stars around it appear to rotate
clockwise or counter clockwise?
Thanks

Internet Traveler wrote:

I was looking at the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) and thought, when I look at the
North star, does the apparent motion of the stars around it appear to rotate
clockwise or counter clockwise?

Just remember that celestial bodies appear to rise in the east and
set in the west. When you're facing north, that means that the stars
to your right are ascending and those to your left are descending, so
the rotation is counterclockwise.

--
Odysseus

Thanks
It just seems backwards, probably because old analog clocks run clockwise.
Music of the spheres and all that...
If clocks ran counterclockwise it would give a new meaning to the phrase,
'time is running out'.
Cordially
IT


"Odysseus" wrote in message
...
Internet Traveler wrote:

I was looking at the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) and thought, when I look at
the
North star, does the apparent motion of the stars around it appear to
rotate
clockwise or counter clockwise?

Just remember that celestial bodies appear to rise in the east and
set in the west. When you're facing north, that means that the stars
to your right are ascending and those to your left are descending, so
the rotation is counterclockwise.

--
Odysseus

"Internet Traveler" wrote in message
...
Thanks
It just seems backwards, probably because old analog clocks run
clockwise.
Music of the spheres and all that...
If clocks ran counterclockwise it would give a new meaning to the
phrase, 'time is running out'.
Cordially
IT
Remember though, it is us that are turning, not the sky. Think how the
clockface would appear to somebody standing 'on' the hands.

Best Wishes

"Odysseus" wrote in message
...
Internet Traveler wrote:

I was looking at the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) and thought, when I look
at the
North star, does the apparent motion of the stars around it appear to
rotate
clockwise or counter clockwise?

Just remember that celestial bodies appear to rise in the east and
set in the west. When you're facing north, that means that the stars
to your right are ascending and those to your left are descending, so
the rotation is counterclockwise.

--
Odysseus

Internet Traveler wrote:

[rearranged]

"Odysseus" wrote in message
...

snip

Just remember that celestial bodies appear to rise in the east and
set in the west. When you're facing north, that means that the stars
to your right are ascending and those to your left are descending, so
the rotation is counterclockwise.

It just seems backwards, probably because old analog clocks run clockwise.
Music of the spheres and all that...

The direction of clocks is based on the apparent motion of the sun,
for a northern-hemisphere observer facing south. That's why it's the
opposite: when you're looking at the noonday Sun your back is to the pole.

--
Odysseus