Kit №IV
The Planisphere
STAR WHEEL · LAT 30–50° N
WHOLE-SKY ORIENTATION
A rotating star wheel — dial tonight’s date against the time and the oval window shows exactly which constellations are up.
Loading instrument…
- 1Horizon oval
- 2Date / time rim
Instrument record
- Type
- Rotating star wheel
- Projection
- Stereographic
- Latitude
- 30°–50° N band
- Reads
- Whole naked-eye sky
At the eyepiece
The disc is a stereographic projection of the whole visible sky; you rotate it until the date on the rim meets the hour on the cover, and the horizon oval then frames precisely the stars standing above you. Because the projection is cut for one latitude band, you hold it overhead with its compass edge matched to the way you face — north down when you look south — and the sky reads as it truly sits.
Pairs with · ✦
The Red Light
Set the wheel under deep red so reading it never costs you the dark adaptation you came out for.
Take it further
Read the deeper observing guides, size up gear in the field kit, or carry the notation as original merch in the shop.