Expert: Steven LJ Russo - 12/20/2004

Question
Hi,

I've been asking myself this question for a while now, and though it seems quite simply, I'm never quite certain.

If I live in montreal, do I see the same stars every night all year round, like geostationnary satellites?(If so, why since the earth turns around the sun and not just around itself?). Because I think I see the sames ones all the time except at slightly different locations.

And do other countries see other "sets" of stars that we will never see?

Answer
Seb:

Well, you would see the same stars year after year.  For example, the stars you would see tonight, you would see next December 21.  The stars you see in April, you would see next April, etc.

Some stars, like the ones in the North (Big and Little Dippers, Cassiopeia) you will see EVERY night.

Other countries might see different stars.  Countries in the southern hemisphere (Australia, etc) see a totally different set than we do here in North America.

On a different note, My wife and I spent two days in you fine city last Summer, going to a couple of Montreal Expos games at the Stade Olympique.  My friend Manny (Acta) was the third base coach, now a coach for the NY Mets.  I Loved the stadium, and the area around it where the olympics were held.  We also drove to Jerry Park, and it brought back memories of the old days of Rusty Staub.  We enjoyed your city, and the friendliness of the people we met there.

Steve (Albany, NY)

www.look-to-the-skies.com