Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to Some of that I had not considered . . .

Coordinates

In that graphic that I posted in that other post, it shows how a star can have different coordinates depending on which frame of reference is being used to locate it.

In the equatorial system, the star is located by right ascension (alpha) and declination (delta), Alpha is measured in hours east from the vernal equinox, delta in degrees north or south of the equator. This is convenient for telescope users in finding objects and pointing their instruments.

In the ecliptic system, coordinates are given in terms of ecliptic longitude (lambda), measured in degrees east from the vernal equinox and latitude (beta) measured in degrees north or south of the ecliptic. This coordinate system is useful for calculations of planetary motion and in spacecraft navigation.

The galactic coordinate system is also measured in degrees of longitude east of the galactic center (l, in the direction of Sagittarius) and degrees of latitude north or south of the galactic plane (b, as defined by the Milky Way). Galactic coordinates are useful in galactic studies.

But beware, all three of these coordinate systems have their origin, or zero point, at the earth. All three of these coordinate systems define locations on an imaginary sphere with the earth at its center. In other words, the ecliptic coordinate system is not centered at the sun, and the galactic system does not have its origin in the galactic core. The sun is in the galactic disk, about 30000 light years from the galactic core, or about 1/3 of a galactic diameter.

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