This may not be the right forum for my question, but I could find no other forum that seems to fit. Question:
Is there a formula or algorithm to convert the celestial coordinates of any star or deep-sky object as of a specified earlier epoch into its coordinates as of a later epoch? As an example: Burnham's Celestial Handbook gives the coordinates of M78 as RA 5 hrs 44.2 mins and Decl. North 00ยบ 02'. I know that the positions noted in that book were for the 1950 epoch and precession has changed them. In order to determine the coordinates of M78 as of now or the 2000 epoch, must I look them up in a more current source, or must I apply the data applicable to just this object in its catalog listings? Or is there some mathematical formula that I can program into a spreadsheet that will adjust the 1950 coordinates of any star or DSO for its precessional movement since that epoch? The question arises for me because I find Burnham's work ideally organized and written for my kind of observing, but, to search for some of the more dim objects Burnham lists, I would like to be able to feed their current coordinates into my "go-to" scope. Your responses will be appreciated.
Is there a formula or algorithm to convert the celestial coordinates of any star or deep-sky object as of a specified earlier epoch into its coordinates as of a later epoch? As an example: Burnham's Celestial Handbook gives the coordinates of M78 as RA 5 hrs 44.2 mins and Decl. North 00ยบ 02'. I know that the positions noted in that book were for the 1950 epoch and precession has changed them. In order to determine the coordinates of M78 as of now or the 2000 epoch, must I look them up in a more current source, or must I apply the data applicable to just this object in its catalog listings? Or is there some mathematical formula that I can program into a spreadsheet that will adjust the 1950 coordinates of any star or DSO for its precessional movement since that epoch? The question arises for me because I find Burnham's work ideally organized and written for my kind of observing, but, to search for some of the more dim objects Burnham lists, I would like to be able to feed their current coordinates into my "go-to" scope. Your responses will be appreciated.
NexStar 8i SCT, Orion 80ED APO refractor, Orion 120 mm EQ refractor, 3.5-inch Questar
