(meteorobs) Fwd: Determining Altitude & Azimuth From All SkyCam Images (fwd)

[Chris Peterson]

That sounds like more work than just doing a simple transform between the 
image's Cartesian coordinates and the slightly modified polar coordinates 
that describe the altitude and azimuth. You can do that with a half dozen 
images take over a single evening showing the Moon moving across the sky, 
and be within a degree or so of true.

Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Larry" <ycsentinel at att.net>
To: "Global Meteor Observing Forum" <meteorobs at meteorobs.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 2009 8:34 PM
Subject: Re: (meteorobs) Fwd: Determining Altitude & Azimuth From All SkyCam 
Images (fwd)


> If "close" will do..........
>
> If (PRECISE) measures are not absolutely necessary, it is a simple task to
> match camera boresights with zenith when (in my case), Vega crossed zenith
> on Sept. 27, '09 e.g. This is best done with 3 or 4 turnbuckles attached 
> to
> camera mounting column for steering the camera zenith.
>
> Build an overlay circular Azimuth degree graph based on Zenith, North 
> Star,
> and the fitting dimensions of software photographs.
>
> Build a circular overlay graph which corresponds to Altitude.
>
> Combine the overlays.
>
> Check all of the above at periodic intervals with Planets, Stars, and
> ephemeris programs to determine degree of error and changes in the
> mountings.
>
> But then I don't chase rocks...... :-)