<p>The Right Ascension of a star is fixed (ignoring precession of the equinoxes). What you need or want to know is the "sidereal time" - that is to say the "time" based on which RA is at your local meridian at a given time. The sidereal day is slightly shorter than the mean solar day (ie the 24 hour day) and so sidereal and solar times drift apart - only being equivalent at the vernal equinox.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-16T21:30:00.953Z
Also ignoring proper motion (which is negligible over moderate time scales).
Keith Thompson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-16T19:52:15.430Z
2015-02-16T19:52:15.430Z
adrianmcmenamin
<p>This question is about finding the elevation and bearing of a given star at a particular time at Latitude 52N.</p>

<p>I look up the RA and Declination of my star. How do I calculate its bearing and elevation at hourly intervals?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-16T19:38:13.750Z
I think the OP uses "Bearing", and by that means azimuth.The use of RA at the end looks like an error. Edited.... @barry could you  link that other answer?
James K
<positional-astronomy>
How do I get from Star Atlas to real life?
user2256790
# How do I get from Star Atlas to real life?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-12-31)

This question is about finding the elevation and bearing of a given star at a particular time at Latitude 52N.

I look up the RA and Declination of my star. How do I calculate its bearing and elevation at hourly intervals?

**Tags:** positional-astronomy
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I think the OP uses "Bearing", and by that means azimuth.The use of RA at the end looks like an error. Edited.... @barry could you  link that other answer?  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-02-16. Score: 1

The Right Ascension of a star is fixed (ignoring precession of the equinoxes). What you need or want to know is the "sidereal time" - that is to say the "time" based on which RA is at your local meridian at a given time. The sidereal day is slightly shorter than the mean solar day (ie the 24 hour day) and so sidereal and solar times drift apart - only being equivalent at the vernal equinox.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Also ignoring proper motion (which is negligible over moderate time scales).  

---

