AST 0112

roberto.puddu@uc.cl
 Theme
Coordinate Systems
Different types
How to use
 Coordinate Systems
Coordinate System Fundamental Poles Coordinates Zero Point
Plane

Geographic (Earth) Equator Poles latitude Greenwich, UK

longitude

Local = Horizontal Horizon zenith/nadir elevation (or altitude) Your meridian

(also Alt/Az or Az/El) azimuth

Equatorial celestial equator celestial poles declination Vernal Equinox

(“Celestial”) right ascension/hour angle Epoch (J2000)

Ecliptic ecliptic ecliptic poles ecliptic latitude Sun + VE

ecliptic longitude Epoch (J2000)

Galactic galactic plane galactic poles galactic latitude Galactic Center

galactic longitude

Supergalactic supergalactic supergalactic supergalactic latitude Intersection of

Galaxy plane and
plane poles supergalactic longitude supercluster plane
 Coordinate Systems

Horizontal
 Coordinate Systems

Equatorial
Coordinate Systems

Galactic
 Equatorial Coordinates
γ is the vernal equinox or “first point of constellation Aries” (actually in Pisces now).
The direction of γ is nominally “fixed” relative to the stars (but precesses slowly).
R-S corresponds to a segment of the great circle N-P-Z-R-S (your meridian)
The arc of C-γ-R-D is the curve of the of Celestial Equator

X position of the star:

arc between X-C is star’s declination δ (+90°,-90°)
arc between C-γ is star’s right ascension α (0-24h)h)
Y
α increases to the east of γ. Motion
of Y

Motion
Hour angle, H, time since the object X of X

crosses (or transits) the meridian.

γ D
δ R H Equator

α
C

East S West

Horizon
 Equatorial Coordinates
Hour angle, H, time since the object crosses (or transits) the meridian.

We define Local Sidereal Time (ST) to be 0 hrs when the vernal equinox (γ, which
has RA=0) transits the observer's local meridian.

One hour later, the local Hour Angle (HA) of the equinox is +1h (by the definition of
Hour Angle), and the Local Sidereal Time is 1h. A star transiting now has RA~1h.

If H = 0, object on the meridian (N-Z-R-S), Y

Motion
transit, ⇒ ST = α (object passes meridian) ST = α (object passes meridian) of Y

Motion
X of X

γ D
δ R H Equator

α
C

East S West

Horizon
Equatorial Coordinates

t or t
ua es
n Eq W
io
ot
M Y
of
Y D
H
R on
iz

S
or
H
n

γ
io
ot

α
M fX
o
C

st
X

Ea
With respect to object X, object Y will Y
Motion
of Y

Motion
X of X
A. Transit before object X.
B. Transit after object X. γ D
δ R H Equator

C. Transit at the same time. α

C
D. None of the above
East S West

Horizon

A. Appear to move faster on the sky

B. Appear to move slower on the sky
C. Appear to move at the same speed
D. None of the above, since stars do not move

What are the highest/lowest declinations which are visible from Santiago?
How do we know when a celestial object will transit?
 We define Local Sidereal Time (LST) to be 0 hrs when the vernal equinox (VE, which
has RA=0) transits the observer's local meridian.
 One hour later, the local Hour Angle (LHA) of the equinox is +1h (by the definition of
Hour Angle), and the Local Sidereal Time is 1h. A star transiting now has RA~1h
 At any instant, Local Sidereal Time = Local Hour Angle of the VE.
 Alternatively, Local Sidereal Time ~ Right Ascension of any star currently transiting
(I use ~ here because 23h 56m does not = 24h...a possible point of confusion)

 Now LST is different from solar time, which is defined as some variant of Greenwich
Mean Time (GMT). To calculate the offset, roughly:
 Greenwich mean time of Noon March 21
=> vernal equinox and Sun transit Greenwich together, RA=0
 Each day, Sun position moves +3.94min in RA, providing an offset between solar
time and local sidereal time.
 Your location on the Earth relative to Greenwich, UK is not the same as the median
location of your time zone (+4h GMT), so better to use your longitude
(Santiago=70.6667° W), which is equivalent to 4.71111 hrs.
 The offset between Santiago local time and LST is:
LST - local time = 3.94m * days past VE + (+4h GMT - 4.71111h)
 Locations of visible planets
0h 1h 2h 3h 4h)h 5h 6h 7h 8h 9h 10h 11h 12h 13h 14h)h 15h 16h 17h 18h 19h 20h 21h 22h 23h 24h)h
60

60
4h)0

4h)0
Mercury
20

20
Uranus Venus
Mars

Neptune
0

0
Su
n
Jupiter Pluto
Saturn
-20

-20
-4h)0

-4h)0
-60

-60
0h 1h 2h 3h 4h)h 5h 6h 7h 8h 9h 10h 11h 12h 13h 14h)h 15h 16h 17h 18h 19h 20h 21h 22h 23h 24h)h
Right Ascension

Check out animation of this at:

http://www.physics.sfasu.edu/astro/Planets/planetchart.html
at is maximum/minimum observable altitude from Santiago (33.4500° S, 70.6667° W) for the following?

RA DEC
Polaris 02h 32m +89d 15m
Crab 05h 34m +22d 00m
Pulsar/Nebula

Large 05h 23m -66d 45m

Magellanic
Cloud (LMC)

M42 (Orion 05h 32m -05d 23m

Nebula)

Southern Cross 12h 30m -60d 00m

(Crux)

Ω Cen 13h 26m -47d 28m

Fomahaut 22h 57m -29d 37m
4h 4h
0h
8h
20h 12h
16h
 N?

N
?

What can you tell from this picture???

What time of day is it?
Where is the Sun?
Where would/should other planets lie?
Where on Earth could you be?
Key Concepts Resume:

Celestial Sphere + coordinates

What are the different coordinate systems and why are each potentially useful? How do we use
equatorial coordinates to gain a deeper understanding and intuition of the night sky?

Times (days, months, years). Sidereal vs. Solar/Synodic

Seasons.

Phases of the Moon.

Eclipses.

Tides.

static vs moving? Reference frames.