Hello I have to do an observational project over this semester which requires me to observe the big dipper. I am from Southern Illinois, and I am told I have to draw the big dipper in the north sky with respect to the horizon.

My professor told me the best time to observe this was at 5 am US central time. I went out this morning at 5 a.m. and I was having trouble spotting it (it was foggy out).

Im just wondering if anyone can give me any info on the angle the big dipper is with respect to the horizon in late august and early september in the north sky.

Also is it upside down, or right side up? etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

uhh I can't tell you but I can point you in the direction of a nice resource:

A piece of software called "stellarium" (just google for it), it's free.

It does so much I can't really even describe it to you. But for example you can set it up to look like the sky will look where you live on the date you are interested in and have it show you where stuff is... Should make finding stuff much easier.

This post was edited by Azrad on Sep 5 2013 10:22pm

Where at in So. IL. ? Happen to be from the area as well.

Carbondale

Thanks alot!

This may interest those in this thread. I hate to advertise in other threads, but it's really related and important to me. Read posts 1 and 3. Open to all opinions/suggestions.

(astronomy major/people interested in space wanted)

http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=68762686&f=126