The celestial sphere is a tool that astronomers use to map the sky. To navigate the map, we need coordinates. Maps of the Earth have longitude and latitude; the celestial sphere has right ascension (RA) and declination (Dec). To make sense of longitude and latitude, you first need to locate the North and South Poles. … Continue reading Celestial Coordinates
Celestial Sphere
Celestial Sphere
Astronomers map the sky. Maps of the sky have aided navigators for thousands of years. They also let astronomers locate and identify astronomical objects such as stars, nebulae, and galaxies and plan astronomical observations. Backyard astronomers use sky atlases (likely digital) to find interesting objects in the sky. Professional astronomers map the sky so that … Continue reading Celestial Sphere
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