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

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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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