Constellations

Page
4

Slide 40

Different sets of constellations are visible in northern and southern skies.

The Altitude of the celestial pole (Polaris) = your latitude

Slide 41

Counter-Clockwise Rotation

Clockwise Rotation

Northern Hemisphere

Southern Hemisphere

The Altitude of the celestial pole (Polaris) = your latitude

Slide 42

Right Ascension and Declination

Right Ascension (RA): Analogous to longitude, but on the celestial sphere.

It is the east-west angle between the vernal equinox and a location on the celestial sphere.

Declination (dec): Analogous to latitude, but on the celestial sphere.

It is the north-south angle between the celestial equator and a location on the celestial sphere.

Slide 43

Slide 44

Units of R.A.

360o = 24h

 15o/h

Slide 45

Azimuth and Altitude are observer centric.