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Celestial Coordinate Systems Explained

The document describes different coordinate systems used to locate objects in the sky, including: - The celestial sphere, with celestial equator and poles extending the Earth's equator and poles. Declination and right ascension measure positions. - The local horizon system uses azimuth (degrees from north) and altitude (degrees from the horizon) to locate objects. - Examples show how to use these systems to determine locations and angular separations of stars. Measurements of Polaris' altitude can estimate the observer's latitude.

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249 views19 pages

Celestial Coordinate Systems Explained

The document describes different coordinate systems used to locate objects in the sky, including: - The celestial sphere, with celestial equator and poles extending the Earth's equator and poles. Declination and right ascension measure positions. - The local horizon system uses azimuth (degrees from north) and altitude (degrees from the horizon) to locate objects. - Examples show how to use these systems to determine locations and angular separations of stars. Measurements of Polaris' altitude can estimate the observer's latitude.

Uploaded by

mktsha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

The Celestial Sphere, Positions, and

Angles
Objectives:
Develop a coordinate system
How do you measure distances on a sphere

The Celestial Sphere

Earth at center of very


large sphere
Because sphere is so
large, observer, is also
at center (figure not to
scale).

Stars in fixed positions


on sphere

Extend the Earths


Equator

Celestial Equator: Extension


of the Earths equator.

Earths Coordinate
System
Latitude (-90 to 90): A series of
full circle arcs which are parallel to the
equator.
up-and-down or
North-to-South
Longitude : A series of half circle
lines which run from the N. pole to the
S. pole.
left-to-right or
West-to-East
Meridian: Any half circle arc that
connects the poles
Prime Meridian: The local Meridian
line which runs through Greenwich
England.

Latitude

Extend the Earths Coordinate System


Dec=90
Celestial Coordinate System:
Declination (0-90): The
north/south positions of points on
the celestial sphere. Latitude
Right Ascension (0-24 hrs):
The east/west positions of points
on the celestial sphere.
Longitude
These two give the location of any
object on the sky

Dec=0

Local Horizon Coordinate System

Horizon: Where the Ground meets the sky

Azimuth (0 - 360)
Horizontal direction (N,S,E,W)
N = 0 , E = 90,
S = 180, W = 270

Altitude
Height above horizon
Horizon = 0, Zenith = 90
Local Declination
horizon

Your Observing Location

Zenith
point directly
overhead
Meridian
connects N and S
through zenith
Noon
sun is on meridian

TPS (reports?)

Which of the following locations on the celestial sphere


is closest to the South Celestial Pole?
A.
B.
C.
D.

RA= 14 hr
RA= 14 hr
RA= 23 hr
RA= 6 hr

dec= +88
dec= -88
dec= +02
dec= +24

Which of the following coordinates in your


local horizon system (Laramie, WY) is closest
to the North Celestial Pole?
A. Az. = 45 deg, Alt. = 85
B. Az. = 220 deg, Alt. = 15
C. Az. = 0 deg, Alt. = 45
D. Az. = 100 deg, Alt. = 85

Tip: For Northern Hemisphere


Observers Only
Altitude of North Star = Approximate
Latitude
If you measure the altitude of Polaris
in the sky to be 20, this means you
are observing from approximately
20 N Latitude (or + 20 Latitude).
You could be, for example, in Mexico
City
Laramie: Latitude = + 41

Laramie

Angular Separation & Size

Two stars are


separated by an
angle of 24as
seen by the
observer.
We say the angular
separation is 24
degrees.

Examples

The Northern Sky


What would happen if we walked north (really far)?
Find a reference star:

The pointer stars from the Big Dipper point to Polaris (the
North Star)

Measure the
Circumference
of Earth

Air Distance:
Lar Shively Arpt, Laramie, WY to
Natrona Cty Intl Arpt, Casper, WY

Distance

108 miles

Laramie

Casper

1.5 degrees

Measuring the Circumference of Earth


108 miles (on earth) = 1.5 degrees (on celestial sphere)
108/1.5 = 72 (miles/degree)
Circumference (miles) = 72 (miles/degree) * 360 (degrees)
=25,000 miles
lets check

1.5

Lecture Tutorial (LT)

Position

From a latitude of 90 N, the altitude of the


North Celestial Pole is ____ above the
horizon?
A. 45
B. 90
C. 20
D. 0

You measure the altitude of Polaris to be approximately


35. Looking along the meridian, how many degrees
from the zenith will you find the celestial equator?
A.
B.
C.
D.

35
45
55
65

Celestial Sphere Rotation

Where would the


observer look to see
the star indicated by
the arrow?
A.
B.
C.
D.

High in the Northeast


High in the Southeast
High in the Northwest
High in the Southwest

Star B
2
Star A
1

Celestial Sphere

Celestial Sphere
3
1

Celestial Sphere Rotation

Figure 2

Horizon

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