Celestial Sphere

and
Celestial Coordinate Systems
Geodetic
Astronomy

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and

Photogrammetry
University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City

Definition – Geodetic
Astronomy

• determination of geographic positions and

directions between neighboring stations
(azimuths) from measurements on natural
celestial bodies

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Celestial Sphere

• Almost all celestial objects are at a

distance many times the radius of the
Earth from which we make our
observations
• Being at practically infinite distances, they
seem to be located on a celestial sphere
on which a pair of coordinates can be
used to define a place or position

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The Celestial Sphere

zenith
prime vertical circle
NCP
almucantar

celestial
west
meridian
point

Earth north point

south point
celestial horizon

east
point celestial equator
parallel of
declination

hour circle
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 The Celestial Sphere
zenith equinoctial colure
NCP
NEP

autumnal ecliptic
equinox parallel

Earth horizon

celestial vernal
meridian equinox
equator

ecliptic

SEP
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Parts of the Celestial

Sphere

AUTUMNAL EQUINOX - intersection of the

ecliptic and of the equator
- occurs every 21st of September
ALMUCANTAR - known as parallels of altitude
- intersection of the sphere and of a plane
parallel to the horizon
CELESTIAL EQUATOR - a great circle
perpendicular to the axis of rotation
CELESTIAL HORIZON - the horizontal plane of
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 Parts of the Celestial
Sphere
CELESTIAL POLE - the apparent axis of rotation of the
sun
- the line through the sphere’s center perpendicular to
the plane of the equator
- composed of North Celestial Pole (NCP) and South
Celestial Pole (SCP)
ECLIPTIC - the apparent annual path of the sun with the
earth as its center
ECLIPTIC MERIDIANS - great circles perpendicular to the
ecliptic
ECLIPTIC PARALLELS - small circles parallel to the
ecliptic
- also called ecliptic parallels of latitude

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Parts of the Celestial

Sphere

ECLIPTIC POLE - the line through the sphere’s

center perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic
- composed of North Ecliptic Pole (NEP) and
South Ecliptic Pole (SEP)
EQUINOCTIAL COLURE - a great circle through
the celestial poles and the vernal and autumnal
equinox
EQUINOX - intersection of the ecliptic and the
equator
- a period when daytime is as long as nighttime
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Parts of the Celestial
Sphere
GREAT CIRCLE - the intersection of a sphere and
of a plane passing through the center of the
sphere
HOUR CIRCLE - great circle having the celestial
poles as its elements
NADIR - lower point on the line through the
sphere’s center perpendicular to the plane of the
horizon
- lowest point on the celestial sphere
PARALLELS OF DECLINATION - intersection of
the sphere and of a plane parallel to the equator

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Parts of the Celestial

Sphere

PARALLELS OF LATITUDE - small circles on

earth’s surface, parallel to the terrestrial equator
that are used to fix the location of points on earth
PRIME VERTICAL CIRCLE - vertical plane
containing the zenith and nadir, perpendicular to
the celestial meridian
SOLSTITIAL COLURE – hour circle passing
through the poles and the solstices
SUMMER SOLSTICE - occurs every 21st of June
when the sun is above the equator most of the
day
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Parts of the Celestial
Sphere
VERNAL EQUINOX - the intersection of the
ecliptic and of the equator
- occurs every 21st of March
VERTICAL CIRCLE - a great circle containing the
zenith and nadir
WINTER SOLSTICE - occurs every 21st of
December when the sun is below the equator
most of the day
ZENITH - higher point on the line through the
sphere’s center perpendicular to the plane of the
horizon
- highest point on the celestial sphere
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Measurements on the
Celestial Sphere
zenith 90° - Φ
Φ NCP
z γ NEP
P

t = 0°

D
H
360° - t
Earth north point
south point

Z
Τ α t = 180°
ε
ecliptic

SEP
SCP
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Measurements on the
Celestial Sphere

ALTITUDE (H) - the angular distance of the body

from the horizon as measured along the vertical
circle; complement of zenith distance
AZIMUTH (Z or A) - the angle, measured
clockwise along the celestial horizon, from the
north or south point to the vertical circle of the
star
DECLINATION (δ or D) - the angular distance,
north or south of the equator, measured along
the hour circle from the equator to the body
- complement of polar distance
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Measurements on the
Celestial Sphere
HOUR ANGLE (t or h) - the angle, measured
clockwise along the equatorial plane, from the
zenith side of the meridian (t = 0°) to the hour
circle of the star
LATITUDE (Φ or L) - the angular distance,
measured along the celestial meridian, from the
celestial equator to the zenith
OBLIQUITY OF THE ECLIPTIC (ε) - acute angle
between the equator and the ecliptic
- equivalent to 23.5°
PARALLACTIC ANGLE (γ)- the angle between
the vertical circle and hour circle of the star.
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Measurements on the
Celestial Sphere
POLAR DISTANCE (P) - the angular distance
between the pole and the celestial body
measured along the hour circle through the body
RIGHT ASCENSION (α) - an hour angle relation to
the vernal equinox measured eastwardly along
the equator from the vernal equinox to the hour
circle passing through the body
PARALLACTIC ANGLE (γ)- the angle between
the vertical circle and hour circle of the star.
ZENITH DISTANCE (z) – the angular distance
between the pole and the celestial body
measured along the vertical circle through the
body
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Celestial Coordinate
Systems

• Used to define the position of stars on the

celestial sphere
• Systems differ according to the reference
planes used

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Celestial Coordinate
Systems

1. Horizon System
2. Hour Angle System
3. Right Ascension System
4. Ecliptic System

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Horizon System

Primary reference plane:

Celestial Horizon
Primary parameter:
Altitude (H)
Secondary reference plane:
Celestial Meridian
Secondary parameter:
Azimuth (A)
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Horizon System
zenith
NCP
Celestial Meridian

A - 180°

Celestial Horizon

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Hour Angle System

Primary reference plane:

Celestial Equator
Primary parameter:
Declination (δ or D)
Secondary reference plane:
Hour Circle
Secondary parameter:
Hour Angle (h or t)
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Hour Angle System
Hour Circle NCP

h – 12h

Celestial Equator
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Right Ascension System

Primary reference plane:

Celestial Equator
Primary parameter:
Declination (δ)
Secondary reference plane:
Equinoctial Colure
Secondary parameter:
Right Ascension (α)
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Right Ascension System
NEP
Equinoctial Colure NCP

δ Ecliptic
α
Vernal Equinox

Celestial Equator

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Ecliptic System

Primary reference plane:

Ecliptic
Primary parameter:
Ecliptic Latitude (β)
Secondary reference plane:
Ecliptic Meridian of the Equinox
Secondary parameter:
Ecliptic Longitude (λ)
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Ecliptic System
NEP
NCP
Ecliptic Meridian

β
Winter Summer
Solstice Solstice
λ
Vernal Equinox
Ecliptic
Celestial Equator

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