GEOCACHING PLANISPHERE GEOCOIN SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE 3" W Start Price GBP 14.99 Current Price GBP 17.01 Time Left - Bid Count 3 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, July 10, 2008 End Time Sunday, July 20, 2008 Location Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire See more about 'GEOCACHING PLANISPHERE GEOCOIN SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE 3" W' Description GEOCACHING PLANISPHERE GEOCOIN SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE NICKEL COIN FABULOUS COIN - THIS COIN IS OVER 3 INCHES WIDE   This is a functional planisphere coin which you can actually use to locate constellations. Planispheres are maps of the celestial stars as seen from earth. They are the replacement for the planispheric astrolabe. Planispheres drastically reduced the complexities of the planispheric astrolabes and mapped the heavens in an easier to follow chart. The first star chart to be called a planisphere was created in 1624. Planispheres are great for learning the constellations and knowing the exact position of the stars at a particular time to get more accurate readings when used with other navigational tools such as the quadrant, nocturnal, astrolabe, back staff, and sextant. One disadvantage of translating stars from an actual spherical view our sky to a flat disk is the distortion caused created to the real size of the constellations towards the edge of the disk. It causes the images towards the edge of the disk to become stretched out. However, with some practice you will become a pro with this device in no time and be able to compensate for this distortion. Normally, planispheres consist of several disks which map the stars as viewed from different latitudes and for different seasons. The planisphere geocoins we have made do not have interchangeable disks; however, they still give you a good idea of where the stars are at any time of day, and provide you with a pocket sized tool to help learn the constellations. Its 3.25" diameter size makes it portable, and being made out of metal makes it very durable. Both Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere versions are available. We recommend you get both versions if you live below the 30 degree north and above 30 degree south latitudes. The PLANISPHERE Geocoin™ is trackable on Geocaching.com and has its own icon.   FOR DETAILS OF HOW TO USE THE COIN FOLLOW LINK http://www.compassrosegeocoin.com/planisphere.php   BRAND NEW  UNACTIVATED TRACKABLE GEOCOIN THIS GEOCOIN HAS ITS OWN ICON AND IS LOVELY QUALITY MADE BY 'CoinsAndPins' THIS ITEM IS GREAT FOR ANY COLLECTION OR TO TRACK I WILL DISPATCH THE COIN TO THE WINNING BIDDER WITHIN 3 WORKING DAYS OF PAYMENT BEING RECEIVED.  INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS TO PAY WITH PAYPAL ONLY PLEASE GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY BIDDING Photo's used with permission of CoinsAndPins.com   INFO: A geocoin is a special coin created by individuals or groups of geocachers as a kind of signature item or calling card. Like Travel Bugs, each geocoin is assigned a unique tracking ID which allows them to travel from geocache to geocache or to be passed amongst friends, picking up stories along the way. Place a Bid!