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Ursa Major Askew

June 19
On a night of clear skies near Madison, WI the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) was located much further askew than the last reading on Apr 9. At 11:00 PM CDT on June 19, 2004, the Big Dipper was located almost overhead, the cup at Alt 80 and Azi 295. The handle stretched out horizontally toward the South, the end star pointing directly South. It was thus laid out horizontal to the horizon, not tilted as Skymap expects, and far too high in the sky overhead. Skymap is displayed in pea green, what was sighted in hot pink. Note that Polaris is located by the first two stars in the cup of the dipper, thus this star would be displaced too. On Apr 9, some 3 months after orbit halt, Ursa Major was found 15° too far to the WEST. Here, some 6 months after orbit halt, is it is 37° too far to the NORTH, a progressive distance from what is expected.

June 26

Ursa Major was viewed at 11:00 PM, the Cup at Azi 315 Alt 60 (bottom of cup), the Tail with the tail tip pointing South to Azi 275 Alt 80 (top of tail). Skymap expects the same Azi, but much lower, Alt 40 for the Cup and, tail more sharply upright ending at Azi 295. This is too HIGH in the dome, again. Note that the Big Dipper overhead is considered a Winter constellation view.


The streets in towns in the Midwest are laid out on N/S E/W lines. The viewing location is on the block forming the corner of a surveyed 40 acre plot, which forms the cross roads of the town. All the streets in that flat area were based on this survey, which matched 40 acre surveys going in all directions, no skew possible. All the buildings are likewise laid out to face N/S or E/W, precisely. Thus, in sighting true geographical North, a guide was at hand. The place where this measure was taken is to the left of the red star. Streets are dead N/S, E/W.