Australian Astronomy

[snuffles_macgoo]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "Tabouli" <tabouli at u...> wrote: Fear 
not, some Antipodeans will find your fic.  Moreover, most of them 
will know the Southern Cross is usually visible but very very few 
would know enough about astronomy to know whether the Southern Cross 
would be visible at the time required by your story, so I wouldn't 
worry too much...
> 

and storm chimed in ... the southern cross is ALWAYS visible in Au, 
or at least, she says, qualifing that sweeping statement, whenever I 
look at the sky, what ever time of night, where ever I have been in 
Au (including Alice) I have been able to find the southern cross.

I know this because it is the only conselation I can id so I do at 
every op. <g>. 

did you know you can use the southern cross to find south? (I don't 
know if this is useful in the story) The short version is you extend 
the longest axis 4.5 times down to the earth and drop down to the 
horizen: there's south. for a more comphensive explaintion try 
http://www.southernskies.com.au/crux.htm

plus more info about the southern cross (or crux)(like how to tell 
the time using it). the pic on this site shows the pointers (incl 
Alpha centori) on the left with the cross standing upright on the 
right.

storm, who still can't spell and hasn't read from the main list for 
ages but is facinated by suggestions that Minerva's bra size is being 
discussed! 

PS Happy 2nd aniversery Penny - has it only been two years? I thought 
you have been here for EVER!