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what is the declination of the celestial equator

by Ms. Carmela Schoen DVM Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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0° DEC

What is declination of the Earth?

The coordinate indicating where an object is between those poles is declination. Declination is measured from the celestial equator. It extends from 0° at the celestial equator to +90° at the north celestial pole and from 0° at celestial equator to -90° at the south celestial pole.

What is the declination of the north celestial pole?

Thus, +90° declination marks the north celestial pole, 0° the celestial equator, and -90° the south celestial pole. The usual symbol for declination is the lowercase Greek letter δ (delta).

What is declination and right ascension in geography?

Declination and right ascension, an east-west coordinate, together define the position of an object in the sky. North declination is considered positive and south, negative. Thus, +90° declination marks the north celestial pole, 0° the celestial equator, and -90° the south celestial pole.

Where is the celestial equator located on Earth?

The celestial equator is the line coplanar with the earth's equator (and 90° to the axis of rotation). The north celestial pole is directly above the earth's north pole and likewise for the south celestial pole. The coordinate indicating where an object is between those poles is declination.

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Where on Earth would you have to be for the celestial equator to be at your zenith?

If you were standing on Earth's equator, you could observe the celestial equator directly overhead above you, at your zenith.

Where is the celestial equator?

The location of the celestial equator depends on your location on Earth. It is an extension of Earth's equator, so if you are standing in a city on...

What is the difference between the equator and the celestial equator?

The equator is the line that divides Earth into the northern and southern hemisphere. The equator has a latitude of 0 degrees. The celestial equato...

Can you see the celestial equator from the North Pole?

The celestial equator would be at your horizon if you were standing on Earth's North Pole. Therefore, you would not be able to see it.

What is the declination of the celestial pole?

Thus, +90° declination marks the north celestial pole, 0° the celestial equator, and -90° the south celestial pole. The usual symbol for declination is the lowercase Greek letter δ (delta).

What is the angular distance of a body north or south of the celestial equator?

Declination, in astronomy, the angular distance of a body north or south of the celestial equator. Declination and right ascension, an east-west coordinate, together define the position of an object in the sky. North declination is considered positive and south, negative.

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Where is the celestial equator?

From mid-latitudes, the celestial equator stands midway between the horizon and overhead point, while from the poles the celestial equator encircles the horizon. Anything north of the celestial equator has a northerly declination, marked with a positive sign.

Why do celestial coordinates change?

Unlike Earth coordinates, celestial coordinates change due to the slow wobble of Earth's axis called precession. Precession causes the equinox points to drift westward at a rate of 50.3 arcseconds annually. As the equinox shifts, it drags the coordinate grid with it.

What are the two numbers that determine the location of an object in the sky?

Like cities, every object in the sky has two numbers that fix its location called right ascension and declination, more generally referred to as the object's celestial coordinates. Declination corresponds to latitude and right ascension to longitude. There are no roads in the sky, so knowing an object's coordinates is crucial to finding it in your telescope.

What is the latitude and longitude of the Earth?

Earth is shown covered in an imaginary grid of latitude lines (measured from 0° to 90° north and south of the equator) and longitudes lines (measured from 0° to 180° east and west of the prime meridian).

What is the red circle on the Earth?

Right ascension, akin to longitude, is measured east from the equinox. The red circle is the Sun's apparent path around the sky, which defines the ecliptic. Tom Ruen / CC BY-SA 3.0.

How long is right ascension?

Polaris is located at RA 2 h 41 m 39 s, Dec. +89° 15′ 51″. Because the stars circle about the sky every 24 hours, right ascension or RA ranges from 0 h to 24 h. The star 29 Piscium, located immediately east of the equinox point is very close to 0h with an RA of 0 h 01 m 49 s, while its neighbor, Omega (ω) Piscium, located just west of the equinox point, has an RA of 23 h 59 m 19 s.

What is the spot where the Sun arrives?

Astronomers use the spot the Sun arrives at on the first day of spring, called the vernal equinox. Presently, it's located in the constellation of Pisces, the Fish. The sky can be treated as a clock, since it wheels by as Earth rotates, so the zero point of right ascension is called "0 h " for "zero hours.".

What is the equator of declination?

The celestial equator is the Earth's equator projected out onto the celestial sphere. Just as the Earth's equator has a latitude of 0o, the Celestial Equator has a declination of 00.

What is the declination of a celestial object?

The declination of any celestial object is the angle between the celestial equator and the object as measured from the Earth. See the diagram below.

What is the maximum declination of an object?

Since declination is measured as the angle from the celestial equator, the maximum declination an object can have is either 90o N (the North Celestial Pole) or 90o S (the South Celestial Pole).

What is the ecliptic inclined to?

The ecliptic is inclined at 23.5 degrees to the celestial equator. This is the result of: a. the tilt of Earth's rotational axis with respect to the orbital plane of the Earth. b. the tilt of the Sun's spin axis.

Which hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun?

The Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun. Observe the tilt of the Earth's equator with respect to the orbital plane and the. direction in which the Earth's rotation axis points in space as it orbits around the Sun. Which of the.

What is the Moon's orbit?

The Moon's orbit is elliptical and the Earth-Moon distance varies thereby producing. changes in the Moon's apparent size as seen from Earth. d. Earth's elliptical orbit around the Sun carries the Earth closer to the Moon once a.

How often does the Earth's revolution around the Sun happen?

d. The Earth's revolution around the Sun once a year.

How often does the Earth rotate?

The Earth rotates on its spin axis carrying an observer in a complete rotation from west. to east once every 24 hours. Consider both of your sunrise observations. What appears to be the relationship. between the angle that the track of the rising Sun makes with the horizon and the latitude of the.

What is the name of the object that rotates around the Earth?

d. The sky rotates around the Earth.

Which hemisphere is looking directly towards Polaris?

An observer in Earth's northern hemisphere is looking directly towards Polaris. In

Why does the declination of a star change?

A star's declination is constant but its right ascension changes because of the change in longitude of the observer's location. d. The celestial coordinates of a star do not change when an observer's location on the Earth changes. CORRECT.

When does Gemini cross the meridian?

Gemini crosses the meridian in December and Virgo crosses the meridian in March.

Where is the Vernal Equinox located?

The vernal equinox is presently in the constellation Pisces. In what constellation was the vernal equinox located in the year 2500 BCE?

Do the constellations show motion over the course of one year?

d. The constellations show no motion over the course of one year. CORRECT

Is Polaris the same as Latitude?

The altitude of Polaris is almost the same as the latitude of the observer.

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