Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
The following table lists the common coordinate systems in use by the astronomical community. The fundamental plane divides the celestial sphere into two equal hemispheres and defines the baseline for the latitudinal coordinates, similar to the equator in the geographic coordinate system. The poles are located at ±90° from the fundamental plane.
Finding Greenwich time while at sea using a lunar distance. The lunar distance is the angle between the Moon and a star (or the Sun). In the above illustration the star Regulus is used. The altitudes of the two bodies are used to make corrections and determine the time.
Nocturnal: instrument to determine local time using relative positions of two or more stars in the night sky; Octant: measuring instrument used primarily in navigation; type of reflecting instrument; Optical spectrometer, also known as Spectrograph: instrument to measure the properties of visible light; Orrery: mechanical model of the Solar System
The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth has been collecting and categorizing photos taken by astronauts. They see Earth from an altitude of about 250 miles as the station travels at a speed ...
Astronomical pictures, like observational astronomy and photography from space exploration, show astronomical objects and phenomena in different colors and brightness, and often as composite images. This is done to highlight different features or reflect different conditions, and makes the note of these conditions necessary.
There are 293 confirmed moons in our cosmic neighborhood. By studying these worlds, astronomers hope to learn about ancient asteroid collisions, space volcanoes, and the origins of life itself.
There’s an endless procession of ‘north stars’, because the Earth’s axis is not fixed in space, writes Nigel Henbest. Skip to main content. 24/7 Help. For premium support please call: 800 ...
A diagram of a typical nautical sextant, a tool used in celestial navigation to measure the angle between two objects viewed by means of its optical sight. Celestial navigation, also known as astronavigation, is the practice of position fixing using stars and other celestial bodies that enables a navigator to accurately determine their actual current physical position in space or on the ...