Discuss how latitude and longitude on Earth are similar to declination and right ascension in the sky.
To discuss:
Similarity between the declination and right ascension in the skyand the latitude and longitude on Earth.
Explanation of Solution
Introduction:
For locating any point or place on Earth, a mapmaker needs a unique way to identify the location of all features on maps such as landmarks and cities.Similarly, astronomical mapmakers also need a unique way to identify the location of galaxies, stars and other celestial objects.
On Earth, two-dimensionalmapshave been divided into grids and these grids are formed by crisscrossing of horizontal and vertical lines. It is easy to grid any two-dimensional surface but not a spherical one.The scientists have found a unique way of doing it, by dividing Earth by great circles.
Circles passing through North and South poles are termed as longitudes while a set of progressive circles of increasing diameter while moving towards the equator from North or South Pole are known as latitudes.
These are the lines used to locate any point on Earth. Longitude corresponds to East or West direction with respect to prime meridian. Latitude is the angular distance from the Equator to North and South Poles or whether the point is located above or below the equator.
Similarly, if this equator is extended to the celestial sphere, it is termed as celestial equator. RA or (Right ascension) and DEC (Declination) in the sky is like longitude and latitude on the Earth.
Right ascension corresponds to East-West direction in the sky like longitude and measured in hours, minutes and seconds while declination measuresNorth and South direction or point above and below of the Equator like latitude.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 4 Solutions
Astronomy
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
University Physics Volume 3
The Cosmic Perspective
Modern Physics
Lecture- Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy
Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals
The Cosmic Perspective (8th Edition)
- In a part of Earth’s orbit where Earth is moving faster than usual around the Sun, would the length of the solar day change? If so, how? Explain.arrow_forwardPretend the Moons orbit around Earth is a perfect circle. How long does it take in units of days for the Moon to move 90 degrees relative to the stars? Is this number dependent on the synodic period or the sidereal period?arrow_forwardWhat is the right ascension and declination of the vernal equinox?arrow_forward
- On the day of the vernal equinox, the day length for all places on Earth is actually slightly longer than 12 hours. Explain why.arrow_forwardConsider a calendar based entirely on the day and the month (the Moon’s period from full phase to full phase). How many days are there in a month? Can you figure out a scheme analogous to leap year to make this calendar work?arrow_forwardWhich of the following is not a contributing factor in causing eclipses? (17.2) (a) the rotation of the Earth about its axis (b) the inclination of the Moons orbit (c) the varying distance between the Earth and the Moon (d) the varying distance between the Earth and the Sunarrow_forward
- How many days are there in 12 lunar months (synodic months)?arrow_forwardWhich of the following is true of meridians? (15.2) (a) They run east and west. (b) They are halves of great circles. (c) They are great circles. (d) All of these are true.arrow_forwardRight Ascension and Declination is a coordinate system for objects in the sky, and is analogous to longitude and latitude coordinates, respectively, for objects on Earth. Right ascension (RA) coordinates are given in hours (h), minutes (m), and seconds (s). Declination (DEC) coordinates are given in degrees (°), arcminutes ('), and arcseconds ("). Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. Its RA and DEC coordinates are 6h 45 m 7.96 s and -16° 44' 78.6". Using unit conversion, find the RA coordinate only in hours and round the coordinate to 5 significant figures.arrow_forward
- 2) Calculate the difference in the geostationary altitude ( in km ) by by using solar day (24 hrs) and sidereal day (23hrs 56mins and 41 secs) 129.768 64.884 32.442 1000arrow_forwardWhat would be duration of year, if distance Between earth & the sun got doubled? 10 129 days w 365 days (01) 500 days (iv) 1032 daysarrow_forwardWhat would be the duration of the year, if the distance between the earth and the sun gets doubled ? (a) 129 days (b) 365 days (c) 556 days (d) 1032 dayşarrow_forward
- AstronomyPhysicsISBN:9781938168284Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. WolffPublisher:OpenStaxAn Introduction to Physical SciencePhysicsISBN:9781305079137Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar TorresPublisher:Cengage LearningFoundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399920Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage Learning
- Stars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399944Author:Michael A. SeedsPublisher:Cengage Learning