Hi Jim, Probably the difference in observing position -- i.e., UT in England vs. North Orem -- would give somewhat differing views. But I doubt they would far different, since I think it's six or seven hours' from here. -- Joe --- On Wed, 12/31/08, Jim Gibson <jimgibson00@yahoo.com> wrote: From: Jim Gibson <jimgibson00@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Thomas Harriot - first reported astronomical telescope use To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2008, 10:35 AM Season’s Greetings all!! Happy days are here again especially now that the sky is clearing somewhat. I am sometimes curious if my planetarium software (Starry Nights Pro Plus 6) is telling me the truth. I was up early this morning (Wed 31st) and set up in my back yard in north Orem (4 a.m.ish). I came in the house to check something on my planetarium software when I noticed a satellite on my laptop screen about to pass through where I had been looking with my telescope. I ran outside and peered through my 9X50 finder scope and to my delight I saw the satellite go through my field of view confirming my planetarium software was accurate. Later on while reading my email, I read with interest Kurt’s (canopus56) post ‘Thomas Harriot - first reported astronomical telescope use.’ I ran my trusty software back to July 26, 1609 and changed the viewing location to London England and compared. http://galileo.rice.edu/sci/harriot_moon1609_726.gif I am guessing that the smudge at the top of the sketch would be Grimaldi. My software showed a waning crescent 25 days old with the terminator very much closer to the western (eastern?) edge with about 10% - 15% exposed in sunlight. The other picture http://galileo.rice.edu/sci/harriot_moon1610_717.gif was sketched 17 July 1610. This sketch is very different from the first sketch Harriot made. So to compare I ran my planetarium software to 1610 . What I saw looked very much like what my planetarium software showed me for the year before; a waning crescent moon 26 days old with Grimaldi being the prominent creator. I give the guy the benefit of the doubt this being all so very new to him; Harriot observingt and recording. What I would like to know if anyone with different software has run theirs back and gotten different results than what I described? I saved images of what my results were but I don't know how to make them available. Thanks Jim _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com