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The time when the Sun transits the observer's meridian depends on the geographic longitude. To find the Sun's position for a given location at a given time, one may therefore proceed in three steps as follows: [1] [2] calculate the Sun's position in the ecliptic coordinate system, convert to the equatorial coordinate system, and
The solar azimuth angle is the azimuth (horizontal angle with respect to north) of the Sun's position. [1] [2] [3] This horizontal coordinate defines the Sun's relative direction along the local horizon, whereas the solar zenith angle (or its complementary angle solar elevation) defines the Sun's apparent altitude.
It is the complement to the solar altitude or solar elevation, which is the altitude angle or elevation angle between the sun’s rays and a horizontal plane. [4] [5] At solar noon, the zenith angle is at a minimum and is equal to latitude minus solar declination angle. This is the basis by which ancient mariners navigated the oceans. [6]
Coordinates Primary direction (0° longitude) Latitude Longitude Horizontal (also called alt-az or el-az) Observer Horizon: Zenith, nadir: Altitude (a) or elevation Azimuth (A) North or south point of horizon Equatorial: Center of the Earth (geocentric), or Sun (heliocentric) Celestial equator: Celestial poles: Declination (δ) Right ascension (α)
Burt's solar compass or astronomical compass/sun compass is a surveying instrument that makes use of the Sun's direction instead of magnetism. William Austin Burt invented his solar compass in 1835. The solar compass works on the principle that the direction to the Sun at a specified time can be calculated if the position of the observer on the ...
In practice it is not necessary to use zenith distances, which are 90° minus altitude, as the calculations can be done using observed altitude and calculated altitude. Taking a sight using the intercept method consists of the following process: Observe the altitude above the horizon Ho of a celestial body and note the time of the observation.
The following are two independent horizontal angular coordinates: Altitude (alt. or altitude angle [b]), sometimes referred to as elevation (el. or elevation angle [c]) or apparent height, is the angle between the object and the observer's local horizon. For visible objects, it is an angle between 0° and 90°.
It is the complement to the solar altitude or solar elevation, which is the altitude angle or elevation angle between the sun’s rays and a horizontal plane. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] At solar noon , the zenith angle is at a minimum and is equal to latitude minus solar declination angle.