Precession question

Hi. I was wondering if someone here could answer this question:

I understand that Orion is due to reach it's high point in the sky
sometime soon. I am speaking of
the declination, the highest point that Orion reaches in the sky, at
the Meridian. From what I have
understood Orion was only 9 degrees above the horizon some 12,000
years ago (at the meridian),
and is now approaching it's highest point on the Meridian. I wanted to
know when that point will
be reached.

Dennis Allen wrote:
Hi. I was wondering if someone here could answer this question:

I understand that Orion is due to reach it's high point in the sky
sometime soon. I am speaking of
the declination, the highest point that Orion reaches in the sky, at
the Meridian. From what I have
understood Orion was only 9 degrees above the horizon some 12,000
years ago (at the meridian),
and is now approaching it's highest point on the Meridian. I wanted to
know when that point will
be reached.


Yes, any stellar object will reach its maximum declination when
precession takes it to 6 hours of RA. (Well, except for objects which
are closer than 23 1/2 degrees to either ecliptic pole. And I'm
neglecting proper motion.)

Which part of Orion did you have in mind? As of 2000, the three Belt
stars were between 5h32m and 5h41m; Betelgeuse was 5h55m; Rigel was
5h15m. Each of these will reach its max declination at a different
time: first Betelgeuse (the easternmost), then the Belt, then Rigel.

The answer for the middle star in the Belt is around 2475, give or take
a decade or so.

-- Bill Owen

Thanks...Dennis

"Bill Owen" wrote in message
...
Dennis Allen wrote:
Hi. I was wondering if someone here could answer this question:

I understand that Orion is due to reach it's high point in the sky
sometime soon. I am speaking of
the declination, the highest point that Orion reaches in the sky, at
the Meridian. From what I have
understood Orion was only 9 degrees above the horizon some 12,000
years ago (at the meridian),
and is now approaching it's highest point on the Meridian. I wanted
to know when that point will
be reached.


Yes, any stellar object will reach its maximum declination when
precession takes it to 6 hours of RA. (Well, except for objects which
are closer than 23 1/2 degrees to either ecliptic pole. And I'm
neglecting proper motion.)

Which part of Orion did you have in mind? As of 2000, the three Belt
stars were between 5h32m and 5h41m; Betelgeuse was 5h55m; Rigel was
5h15m. Each of these will reach its max declination at a different
time: first Betelgeuse (the easternmost), then the Belt, then Rigel.

The answer for the middle star in the Belt is around 2475, give or
take
a decade or so.

-- Bill Owen