101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Spherical Astronomy, Celestial Equator, Stellar Parallax
Document Summary
The determination of positions of celestial objects and their distances is a complex process that involves a range of techniques and tools. In this response, we will explore the key methods used by astronomers to determine the positions and distances of celestial objects, including stars, galaxies, and other astronomical bodies. Positional astronomy is the study of the positions and movements of celestial objects. The position of an object in the sky is usually measured using a coordinate system that is based on the celestial sphere, which is an imaginary sphere surrounding the earth. The two main coordinates used in this system are right ascension (ra) and declination (dec). Right ascension is measured in hours, minutes, and seconds, and represents the angle between the first point of aries (the point where the celestial equator intersects the ecliptic) and the point on the celestial sphere directly above the object.
