MORE ON STAR CLOCKS 
     
    
   
   
    
     An article entitled 'How to Tell 
     
     Time by the Stars' based on Helen 
     
     Sawyer Hoqg's method appeared in 
     
     the Sept.-Oct. 1982 newsletter. 
     
     Since then another, and slightly 
     
     different, method has come to light. 
     
     This one comes from Terence Dick- 
     
     enson, astronomy consultant to 
     
    

    
     CBC Radio's Quirks and Quorks, and 
     
     seems to be a more foolproof sol- 
     
     ution. Why not try it out some 
     
     clear night this winter? 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     HOW TO READ THE STAR CLOCK: 
     
    
   
   
    
     Stand facing the North Star and 
     
     imagine that it is exactly in the 
     
     center of a laroe clock face with 
     
     the numeral 12 directly above the 
     
     North Star. The hand of the clock 
     
     is a straight line leading from the 
     
     two pointers of the Big Dipper to 
     
     the North Star. 
     
     I. Read the apparent time on the 
     
     star clock to the nearest quarter hour. ' 
     
     2. To this number, add the number of months that have elapsed since the beginning 
     
     of the year. 
     
    

    
     3. Take the number that you have as a result of the above, and double it. Subtract 
     
     your answer from 28%. If your answer was larger than 28%, subtract it from 52%. 
     
     The final answer you get should be your local time based on the 24 hour clock system. 
     
     If Daylight Saving is in effect at the time, add an hour. With a little practice 
     
     you should be able to read the star clock to within one quarter hour of accuracy. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Now let's work out the example shown in the illustration above. 
     
     The date is June 15. 
     
     The approximate time on the star clock face is 9 o'clock, or simply 9. 
     
     Add the number of months since Jan.1 (5%). 9+5%=14% 
     
     Double the result. 2x14%=29 
     
     Since 29 is more than 28%, we subtract it from 52%. 52%-29=23% 
     
     23% hours on the 24 hour clock system is the same as 11:15 P.M. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Horizon 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     NEWS AND NOTES (con't) 
     
    
   
   
    
     NATURE SLIDE CONTEST. Entries to the Nature Slide Contest must be submitted to 
     
     Margaret Mallett by April 5th. Natural History Society members may enter up to 
     
     ten slides, which should not have been entered in any prev1ous NHS contest. 
     
    
   
   
    
     PROVINCIAL SCIENCE FAIR AT U.P.E.I. Watch your newspaper for mere details about 
     
     this worthwhile undertaking, and come and see what Island students have been 
     
     accomolishinn in science this year. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     WINTER SPARROWS. The lovely sketch of the sparrows puffed up against winter's 
     
     cold is by Mrs. Gwen Fichaud of Charlottetown. Sincere thanks to Mrs. Fichaud 
     
     for sharing it with us all in the newsletter. 
     
    
   
   
    
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