Direct sunlight could destroy sensitive detectors. Objects are not observed when they are too close to the sun. Ask students for a sure-fire way to locate the north star. The elevation of the north star is always equal to your latitude. Instruct students to find their latitude on a globe or map.
Students can use the quadrant to determine the time for local noon in their location.
The variation in local noon is caused by the use of standard time zones. Yet the sun reaches its highest point earlier in the eastern part of a time zone than in the western part. This activity can be extended to a discussion of time and time zones. Measuring Elevation Astronomers describe the location of objects by their elevation or height above the horizon. Construct this quadrant to measure the height of the sun in the daytime and the moon, planets and stars at night.