Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for a hand-held planetarium which displays a sky pattern comprising graphical representations of one or more celestial objects. A sensing system comprising one or more sensors provides information about an orientation of the device. A controller receives the information about the orientation of the device from the sensing system and determines therefrom an altitude angle of a pointing axis and an azimuthal angle of the pointing axis. The controller accesses a database of celestial objects and determines, from within the database, one or more selected celestial objects for display based at least in part on a measure of proximity of the celestial objects to the pointing axis. Graphical representations of the one or more selected celestial objects are displayed on a display screen. The planetarium may switch between a normal orientation mode and a downward facing orientation mode.

Abstract: A viewing apparatus provides a user with a view of his or her surroundings and enables the user to select a location from the view of the surroundings for identification. The viewing apparatus transmits location information regarding the selected location to a location identification device. In response to receipt of the location information, the location identification device uses the location information to determine identification information for the location. The location identification device transmits the identification information to the viewing apparatus, which displays the identification information on the view of the surroundings, preferably in association with the selected location. The identification information may include an address, a telephone number, and/or other information.

Abstract: A celestial object locating device according to the present disclosure enables a user to unambiguously identify one or more stars or other celestial objects. The celestial object locating device may also direct a user to a desired celestial object or objects. The device may be useful for locating or identifying stars, constellations, and deep sky objects without knowing a users location or time of day. The celestial object locating device determines the angle between selected visible stars and compares these angles to angles between known stars to determine the location of all other stars. The device includes a 3-axis magnetic field sensor and a 3-axis gravitational field sensor that operate with a processor and an electronic database to perform the required calculations. The device's database may be updated using any suitable method such as flash drives, network connections or other.

Abstract: A hand-held electronic celestial object-locating device assists in identifying a celestial object or directing a user to a desired celestial object. The device is useful for locating or identifying any celestial object including stars, constellations, planets, comets, asteroids, artificial satellites, and deep sky objects to name a few. The device utilizes sensors for 3-axis magnetic field and 3-axis gravitational field detection. The device utilizes a processor and an electronic database to perform the required calculations. The device's database may be updated through access to the Internet through which the updates may be purchased.

Abstract: In the astrolabe herein, both the rete and the plate rotate, although around different centers. The stars are drawn onto the plate, and the coordinate system is represented by the rete. In contrast to the conventional astrolabe, where the stars and the coordinate system are projected onto a plane parallel with the earth's equator, the improved astrolabe projects stars and the coordinate system using a stereographic projection onto a plane parallel with the plane of the ecliptic. This projection puts the celestial pole at the center of the rete, and the line orthogonal to the ecliptic is projected onto the center of the plate, which points about 23.5 degrees off the earth's axis. As with a conventional astrolabe, the rete is rotated to represent the sidereal motion of the stars. In contrast to the conventional astrolabe, the plate may also be rotated to represent the precession of the earth's axis.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for finding and identifying objects in a nighttime sky include a lighted map arrangement, an electronic compass, and means to operate and view the apparatus in the dark to either find the objective in the nighttime sky or to identify an object observed in the nighttime sky. The apparatus and methods provide for orientation as to the physical geographical location of the viewer and the current date and time, as well as orientation of the viewing apparatus relative to the viewer and the nighttime sky.

Abstract: A process for the reproduction of a starlit sky involves accompanying stars and other space bodies with acoustical tones corresponding to their optical images. Particularly individual spectral classes of the stars will each be assigned to an octave of music. The invention also includes combining a device with a telescope for providing acoustical reproduction of respectively observed stars and space bodies.

Abstract: A multipotent astrolabe is used to determine the positions of various celestial bodies by applying the circular star atlas and taking into account ephemeral time and the porjections of the relative positions of the moon, the sun and the stars as viewed from the earth. In addition, the positions of the planets of the solar system are included in the multipotent astrolabe to increase the utility of this instrument in the domain of skywatching.

Abstract: A compact hand-held viewing apparatus that automatically determines the three-dimensional direction in which it is pointing and automatically presents information to the user related to features which are visible in the field of view of the apparatus in that three-dimensional direction. Any given embodiment of the invention is intended to be used for viewing a predetermined subject matter, such as astronomical features of the night sky or geographical features of the distant terrain. Included within the apparatus is a database with data about the predetermined subject matter correlated with three-dimensional direction. The apparatus is configured to provide data from the database in real time to the user as the user observes the field of view in a selected three-dimensional direction.

Abstract: The invention provides a tutorial device for observing lunar phase. A base sheet is inscribed with a time scale, a ring of moon pictures and a ring of moon phases. Outer circles on the base sheet define the months, and times of moonrise, moonset and moonsharp. Mounted on the base are a rotary segment shaped moonguide, a globe longitude disc and an elevation disc with a graduated moon angle scale and a pivoted elevation finger. The movable elements are used in conjunction with the fixed rings and circles on the base sheet to obtain moon data for selected times and earth longitudes.

Abstract: A construction kit for building a three-dimensional constellation model is disclosed for viewing of celestial maps. The kit includes a combination of (a) a zenith section having an external shape of a circular form, the back side of said zenith section having a celestial map of the zenith; (b) 6- to 24-in-a-set body plate sections each having a ship's bottom-like shape, each of said body plate sections including an overlap width on its upper edge for bonding to the zenith section, overlap widths on both its right and left edges for forming rib-like projections and an overlap width on its bottom edge for forming an annular flange, each plate section having a celestial map on its back side; (c) a flange-reinforcing plate adapted to bond together the overlap widths provided on the bottom edges of the adjacent body plate sections and (d) reinforcing plates for the rib-like projections to provide greater rigidity and strength to the completed model.

Abstract: An apparatus for viewing a representation of the celestial vault including a tube bearing a ring of graduations that indicate the dates of the days of a year, and a tube bearing a ring of graduations that indicate the hours of a day. The tubes are axially aligned and rotatable with respect to each other about the axis. One tube contains a representation of the night sky, and the other contains an element, such as a lens, for viewing the representation. The tubes are separably joined so that they can be disassembled, each tube rotated end-over-end through 180.degree., and the tubes reassembled. In one condition of assembly, a sky representation of the northern hemisphere is used, and in the other condition of assembly, a sky representation of the southern hemisphere is used.

Abstract: An astronomical correlator for determining the position of the stars and method of using the same includes a transparent hollow globe having phosphorescent indicia. A horizon ring member and a latitude scale member can be utilized for defining the field of view of the night sky in correlation with the date and time. A flash light assembly can activate phosphorescent material, both on the transparent globe and on an alignment assembly, that permits a sighting by the observer of the night sky through the globe for determining the identification of stars.

Abstract: A multi-dimensional astral position finding device for facilitating viewing selected sky areas such as constellations in the zodiacal band and elsewhere. A device which in combination with a pre-selected field of view facilitates positioning of the eye of the observer with respect to the north/south axis of the earth, the latitude of the observer's position, and time. The position finding device is pivotally mounted on a sky viewing frame or system, the position of the device being directly affected by gravitational forces, its location precisely determined with respect to the north/south axis of the earth by a compass carried by the device and serving as weight means for enhancing the gravitational effect to actuate positioning of the device, said device including indicia on a surface thereof arranged on radii extending from the axis of the pivotal mounting to facilitate desired inclination of the viewing frame relative to the horizon.

Abstract: Constellations are depicted on a ceiling with phosphorescent indicators of a predetermined planar surface area, which indicators are proportionally related to each other by a constant multiplication factor, to depict various star brightness magnitudes. A template has apertures with predetermined shapes, such that each aperture permits the affixing therein of only one indicator of a specific surface area against a ceiling. When all apertures are filled with indicators, the template is removed leaving a depiction of the constellations on the ceiling.

Abstract: A hollow transparent sphere has light reflecting spots formed on its surface in positions corresponding to the actual locations of stars in the night sky. The sphere is illuminated from within so that a viewer looking through the globe sees the spots in the same relative locations as stars in the background sky behind the globe. An equatorial band may be marked to correspond to nearby landmarks as an aid to an orientation of the globe.

Abstract: A simulator is used with an optical locking device such as a cinetheodolite to provide inexpensive, convenient operator training. The simulator has a video monitor mounted on the viewer of the theodolite to display simulation images to an operator. A television camera mounted on the main telescope of the theodolite feeds a background image to the monitor. A graphics generator superimposes a target image on the background image. The movement of the telescope is coordinated with the movement of the target image on the monitor to provide a realistic simulation.

Abstract: The concept of The Spherical Star Chart With Indicator is based on the fact that a majority of the celestial objects maintain a constant angular relationship with each other. The distance of these celestial objects from the center of the earth is so great that parallax due to observations made from the surface of the earth is negligible. The motion of the earth in its orbit and the rotation of the earth about its axis cause the celestial objects to appear to move at a constant rate. When the axis of a sphere is aligned parallel to the axis of the earth and the sphere is made to rotate at the apparent rotation of the celestial objects then the co-ordinates of the position of a celestial object in the sky will be identical to the co-ordinates of its symbol on the sphere.The linkage between the sight and the indicator as hereinbefore described assures that the movement of the indicator is equal to the movement of the sight.

Abstract: A portable planetarium is disclosed for ascertaining the position of the sun, the planets and their satellites and the stars throughout the year. The planetarium includes a frame having a configuration defined by a frustrum of a cone with a substantially hemispherical cap attached thereon. A pole is aligned with the center axis of the frustrum of the cone and extends through the top of the hemispherical cap, with the intersection of the pole and the top of the hemispherical cap utilized as a reference point denoting the north star or Polaris. A covering is secured to the frame and a plurality of markings are selectively applied to the covering using Polaris as the reference point. A plurality of adhesive symbols may also be included to form an educational kit to teach the location of stars and the path of the sun and the planets during the course of the year.