Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Science
  4. / Physical Sciences
  5. / Space And Astronomy
  6. / General Space And Astronomy

by chuckdizzle on September 19th, 2006

chuckdizzle

Question

Help answer this question below.

What are right ascension and declination?

Share:
Other

Answers. 1 helpful answer below.

  • by Quirkie on December 17th, 2006

    Quirkie

    To identify a point on earth you can use latitude and longitude. To identify a point in the sky, imagine the sky to be one big sphere of stars that rotates, while earth stands still.

    The equator of the celestial sphere is called the ecliptic and is the path taken by the sun in the sky.

    Right ascension is the equivalent of longitude and is measured eastwards around the ecliptic from the point in the sky where the sun is at the vernal equinox, which is in Aries. It is usually measured in units of time corresponding to the amount of rotation.

    Declination is the equivalent latitude of gives the angle above the ecliptic.

    • Like
    • Report

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading What are right ascension and declination?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

ANSWERBAG BUZZ

Figuring out right ascension and declination
Characteristics of polaris
Right ascension and declination
Relation of declination to latitude
How to find right ascension and declination

Answerbag

a Demand Media company