Right ascension - Wikipedia
WEBRight ascension (abbreviated RA; symbol α) is the angular distance of a particular point measured eastward along the celestial equator from the Sun at the March equinox to the (hour circle of the) point in question above the Earth. [1]
Right Ascension & Declination: Celestial Coordinates for Beginners
WEBFeb 26, 2019 · Like cities, every object in the sky has two numbers that fix its location called right ascension and declination, more generally referred to as the object's celestial coordinates. Declination corresponds to latitude and right ascension to longitude.
right ascension - Encyclopedia Britannica
WEBRight ascension, in astronomy, the east–west coordinate by which the position of a celestial body is ordinarily measured; more precisely, it is the angular distance of a body’s hour circle east of the vernal equinox, measured along the celestial equator. It is often expressed in units of time.
Right Ascension and Declination - Science Notes and Projects
WEBSep 8, 2021 · A right ascension of 22 hours (22h) goes almost all the way around the circle back toward east (as defined by the equinox). Right ascension tells you what direction …
What is the source of the term "right ascension"? Why is it right ...
WEBOct 1, 2004 · Right ascension is based on the apparent rotation of the sky as Earth spins — 360° in 24 hours, or 15° per hour. The concept dates at least from the time of Hipparchus (190-120 b.c.).
Chapter 2: Reference Systems - Science@NASA
WEBRight ascension (RA) is the celestial equivalent of longitude. RA can be expressed in degrees, but it is more common to specify it in hours, minutes, and seconds of time: the sky appears to turn 360° in 24 hours, or 15° in one hour.
Longitude of the ascending node - Wikipedia
WEBThe longitude of the ascending node, also known as the right ascension of the ascending node, is one of the orbital elements used to specify the orbit of an object in space.
What are RA and DEC? - Celestron
WEBNov 17, 2022 · RA (right ascension) and Dec (declination) are the coordinates on the sky that correspond to longitude and latitude on Earth. RA measures east and west on the celestial sphere and is like longitude on the Earth. Dec measures north and south on the celestial sphere and is like latitude on the Earth.
Right Ascension and Declination Explained - Astrophoto Guru
WEBApr 18, 2023 · What is Right Ascension? Right Ascension (RA) is similar to longitude on the Earth’s surface, except that it is measured in hours, minutes, and seconds rather than degrees of angle.
right ascension - Oxford Reference
WEBSep 17, 2024 · right ascension. (α) A coordinate on the celestial sphere, the equivalent of longitude on Earth. Right ascension is measured anticlockwise around the celestial equator, usually in hours, minutes, and seconds of sidereal time (although sometimes in degrees), starting from 0h at the vernal equinox.
- Some results have been removed
Skip to content