How Do You Use Hand Measurements To Estimate Distances In the Sky While Stargazing?

Photo of author

Karen Hill

While stargazing, it is sometimes difficult to estimate distances in the sky.

Here are a few helpful shortcuts.

Raise your index finger in the air; its width is approximately 1°.

Make a fist and raise it to the sky: the width is about 10°.

If you spread out your fingers against the background of the sky, you have a measure of approximately 20°.

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