NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
From: Brad Morris
Date: 2016 Apr 21, 02:29 -0400
Hi Frank
I saw this too late to try today. I will give it a twirl tomorrow.
I'm not sure what this is a test of. The SkyScout is a zero magnification device. The object observed is not enhanced by the device. It's just a pointer. What I see with the device is what I will see without the device, with the exception that I will know where to look.
There are two clear panels you look through, so there may be a very slight attenuation of light. Its certainly not a significant attenuator of light, at all.
So what is this a test of?? My ability to see Jupiter during the day? Isn't that very dependent on a wide variety of factors? Like atmospheric haze, angular distance from the sun, brightness of the sky as a function of time of day, and etc, etc, etc.
Sure I will take a peek. I really don't understand the significance of what it is I'm testing. Suppose tomorrow it's just a pinch more hazy than normal, such that I don't see Jupiter. Suppose I do? What does this mean?
Brad
Brad Morris, you wrote:
"It's not magic."
Very true! But is it helpful in the way that Peter was suggesting? The pointing accuracy of the Sky Scout is excellent, right? I know you've described in the past that it's impressive. If you still own one, maybe you could try it this afternoon and evening. The forecast for southern New England and Long Island looks good. If you search for Jupiter with the Sky Scout, can you (or can someone with excellent vision --find a kid; they're good at this!) spot it visually 15-30 minutes before sunset? If so, then it's as good as having the Moon in the sky as a fixed point. I would still recommend doing this with some high tree branches: use the device to walk to a spot where Jupiter should be perfectly aligned with the tip of a branch and then search visually.
Frank Reed
