Some asterisms appear to break apart over time - e.g. Arcturus-Muphrid in Bootes, Cor Caroli-Chara in Canes Venatici, Alula Borealis-Alula Australis and Talitha-Al Kaprah in Usra Major. Shouldn't the lines connecting two stars in an asterism always remain attached to the stars even as the motion of the stars distorts the asterism? See the effects on Bootes, Canes Venatici and Ursa Major in the second screen shot.
Hi Ron,
Over how long of a time?
Please set up the simulation, and send it to me at my email address.
Please confirm the timespan over which you are simulating this change of asterisms.
Thanks!
Hi Keiron,
The file is on its way. It is set up to show those two asterisms in the year 28800. The funny thing is that some of the lines in the Bootes asterism stay connected to their respective stars but others do not. See Izar, Nekkar and Seginus. The same thing happens in lots of other asterisms.
Hi Keiron,
I was just investigating the breakup of the Canes Venatici asterism again and found another weird thing. In the year 34400, if you magnify Chara the line for the asterism is still attached to Chara. As you zoom in, the line disappears, then at maximum zoom the star also disappears and only the label is left. The star can not be found - i.e. HUD won't work. See the screens below. There are other stars - e.g. Diadem in Coma Berenices - where HUD stops working as you zoom in even though the star doesn't disappear like Chara. The file I sent you is a good starting point to reproduce these problems.
