Astronomers
of
Verde Valley
            
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Seeing
is Believing
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Aids
to Observation for Amateur Astronomers
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Star Charts
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SFA Star Charts
Click Here to
download free printable star charts in PDF format from the SFA Observatory.
For best results you may want to try these printing
instructions for the PDF files.
To view and print these star charts you will need the free Adobe
Acrobat Reader.
These charts were made using Microsoft Excel with Visual Basic macros that
resize and label the dots. Many students contributed to this project that
took years to complete.
The author, Dan Bruton,
is a professor at Stephen F. Austin State University and works at the SFA
Observatory.
Let Dan know what you think about the SFA Star Charts.
Feel free to email
Dan Bruton your thoughts or questions about this project.
He welcomes feedback.
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Sky
Maps
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Monthly
Sky Maps from Skymaps.com
Click here
to download free monthly editions of a sky map from this source.
For Iridium Flare, ISS, HST, Minor Planet
and Comet viewing, check out
Heavens-Above.com |
Clear Sky Clocks
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These
Clear Sky Clocks
attempt to show at a glance the forecasted visibility factors (clarity and darkness) for a particular
observing site over the next 48 hours.
The
display is designed specifically for amateur astronomers. The input for
these panels comes from weather models run by the
Canadian
Meteorological Centre. They run a weather simulation every four
hours. The numerical output feeds the panels below but can also generate
forecast maps that look like satellite pictures.
You
can read the clocks just as they are on this page. However, clicking on
a clock will bring up a "legend page" with supporting
information for the clock and live links to other data. To see a
forecast map click on
the 'cloud', 'transparency' or 'seeing' block on the legend page. You
can choose to animate the forecast map and see the weather pattern
swirling around. At the moment the Canadian Meteorological Center
appears to have a problem figuring out what time it is in Cottonwood,
but I dare say that will pass.
How to Use the
Clocks: You
can find a detailed explanation of how to use the clocks at on the
legend page at http://cleardarksky.com/c/CttnwdAZkey.html.
Thanks to Attilla
Danko for writing the scripts that create these images and for
accommodating our request to create a clock for Cottonwood. |
The
three clocks below are for our usual sites.
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This last one is here just to make you feel better about living in
Arizona.
Local Weather Link
(Located near 89A & Cornville Rd.)
http://www.wunderground.com/us/az/cornville.html
Topographic Maps
Coordinates
and Topography
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Coordinates |
Click
on this logo for a TopoZone map of Cottonwood area. Click
anywhere on the map to get geographic coordinates. Change the
scale or size of map. Move the display to adjacent areas. Select
a different map zone.
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| 34.7359°N,
112.0273°W |
Verde
Valley Medical Center, Cottonwood |
| 34.8125°N,
111.8285°W |
Red Rock
State Park, Sedona |
| 34.7401°N,
111.8027°W |
Beaverhead
Flat Road Observing Site |
| 34.5241°N,
112.0814°W |
Cherry
Observing Site |
| 34.7539°N,
112.0133°W |
Dead
Horse Ranch State Park, Cottonwood |
| 34.6488°N,
111.7536°W |
Montezuma
Well Observing Site |
| 34.6975°N,
112.1245°W |
Mingus
Mountain Methodist Camp |
|
34°
49' 16.08"N, 111°
54' 51.41"W |
Two Trees Observing Site (Click
for map to site) |
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