Making an Artificial Horizon?

[Rdutton]

Do any of you have pictures or plans of an Artificial Horizon you've made?

I want to make one and it would be nice to see other examples.

What fluid do you use?  Water or oil?


What kind of glass should be used?

[craigsl]

Do any of you have pictures or plans of an Artificial Horizon you've made?

I want to make one and it would be nice to see other examples.

What fluid do you use?  Water or oil?


What kind of glass should be used?

Water is easiest to use but oil is good because it won't evaporate and fog the AH glass.  Used Diesel oil is good because of it's blackness.  I read somewhere that guys even use black coffee.  I made an AH years ago using simple window glass (iron in it too) and got excellent sights of the Sun, moon, Venus and Jupiter.  Stars were a bit harder and you have to look every carefully to find them.  Sirius, Vega, Capella, Betelgeuse, Bellatrix and more of the bright ones are fine to shoot.  Polaris is difficult due to its magnitude.

Just make a wooden box and place the glass on a 45 degree angle like a house roof.  Make it tight enough so the wind wont ripple the water.

This is a good one- it won't rot.

Artificial Horizon

Craig