# US 5,704,653 A · System for identifying stars, planets, deep sky objects and constellations

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- Number: US 5,704,653 A
- Document ID: US5704653A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/654,913
- Filed: 1996-05-29
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1996-05-29
- Assignees: Samuel Lee; Al Lawrence; Timothy Brown
- Inventors: Samuel Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704653A

## CPC

- G09B 27/04: Star maps
- G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B)

## Abstract

A system to help a viewer find stars, planets, deep sky objects and constellations is disclosed. The system has a series of sky maps showing different views of the sky. One or more tables is provided for each map. The tables assist in corresponding the sky map to the sky. The tables have coordinates corresponding to times and dates and inform the viewer as to the direction in which he should look, the way in which the sky map should be oriented and whether the viewer should look high in the sky, low in the sky or in-between.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for aiding a viewer in the location of stars in the sky comprising:
(a) a series of sky maps showing different views of the sky, said sky maps having stars thereon and having means to enable a viewer to orient the sky map;
(b) a series of tables, at least one table being associated with each map, each said table having coordinates corresponding to times and dates, said coordinates being:
(i) a first coordinate indicating the direction in which a viewer should look;
(ii) a second coordinate indicating the orientation in which the sky map should be positioned; and
(iii) a third coordinate indicating whether the viewer should look high, middle or low in the sky.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of tables associated with each map, each said table being for a different latitudinal zone.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2 further including geographic means indicating which of the said plurality of tables the viewer should use for the viewer's geographic location.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3 wherein said geographic means is a map.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3 wherein the map is divided into latitudinal zones.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3 wherein said means is an electronic locator.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further including orientation means for use in conjunction with said first coordinate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7 wherein said orientation means is an azimuth disk having indicia thereon about the circumference and having an indicator pointing North.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8 wherein said indicia are the numerals "1" through "8" equally spaced about said azimuth disk.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8 wherein said indicator pointing to North is an arrow.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8 wherein said indicator pointing to North is a compass.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further including planet locating means for determining the location of at least one planet on a sky map.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12 wherein said planet locating means is a table having planets as the X-axis and dates as the Y-axis.