The Celestial Sphere

BR 45(2) (Astro Navigation)

Chapters 1 and 4

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Lesson will cover:
• Definitions used in describing the
Celestial Sphere
• Movement of heavenly bodies
• The Earth’s Solar Orbit
• Celestial triangle (PZX triangle)
• Combined co-ordinate system
• Precession and nutation

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 The Celestial Sphere
• To an observer on Earth the sky has the
appearance of an inverted bowl.
• Heavenly bodies appear to lie at the same
distance.
• All bodies are moving westwards relative to
the observer, rising in the east and setting in
the west.

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 Looking South
Zenith

Celestial Equator

90º - latitude

East South West

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 Looking North
Zenith

Pole Star (Polaris)

latitude

West North East

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 Celestial Sphere
North Celestial Pole

Parallel of Hour Angle

Declination

Celestial Celestial Celestial

Equator Meridian Meridian
Hour Angle

South Celestial Pole

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Positions on Earth/Celestial Sphere
• Positions can be related to Equator/
Celestial Equator and Greenwich/
Celestial Greenwich Meridian.
• Latitude and Longitude are angles
measured across Earth’s surface.
• Declination and Greenwich Hour Angle
(GHA) measured in the Celestial Sphere.
• By convention, GHA is measured
westwards for 0º to 360º.
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 Relating Positions
Zenith Greenwich
of GP Hour Angle
Geographical (GHA)
Position
Longitude
Declination

Latitude

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 Local Hour Angle
North Celestial Pole

Parallel of LHA
Declination

Celestial Celestial Observer’s

Equator Meridian Meridian
Local Hour Angle

South Celestial Pole

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 Earth’s Solar Orbit
• Earth’s axis remains relatively stationary
in spatial terms but is not perpendicular
to the plane of the orbit.
• Inclined axis causes the position of the
sun to move in relation to the equator.
• Changing angle (declination) creates the
seasons in temperate latitudes.

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 Ecliptic - Sun’s Annual Track

First Point of Ecliptic

Libra

First Point of Aries

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 Seasons
Spring
Equinox 21
Mar
Summer
Solstice 21
Jun

Winter
Solstice 22
Dec
Autumnal
Equinox 23
Sep
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 Annual Change in Sun’s Declination
Declination
North
Summer Solstice

Spring
Equinox
21 Mar 21 Jun 23 Sep 22 Dec

Autumnal
Equinox

Winter Solstice
Declination
South

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Sun’s Diurnal Track Declination North

N S

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Sun’s Diurnal Track Declination South
P

N S

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 Vertical Circles
Zenith

Celestial Observer’s
Pole Meridian
Prime
Vertical
Vertical
E
Circle
Celestial
Horizon
N Earth S

Celestial
Pole

Nadir
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 The Celestial Triangle
Co-lat Z Latitude
LHA
Azimuth Zenith Distance
P
Co-dec
X
Declination

Altitude
Celestial
Horizon Earth

P’

Nadir
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The Combined Co-ordinate System
• Horizon system defined by Observer’s
Zenith and Celestial Horizon
• Celestial system defined by Celestial Poles
and Celestial Equator
• Celestial Pole and position of Star defined
using celestial system
• Observer’s Zenith defined using horizon
system (based on latitude)
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 Precession
• Conical motion of the Earth’s axis about
the vertical to the plane of the Ecliptic.
• Results in slow westward movement of
First Point of Aries (Equinox).
• Result of gravitational forces exerted by
Sun and Moon on the Earth’s equatorial
bulge.
• Period of rotation 25,800 years.
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 Nutation
• Small continuous but slightly erratic
sinusoidal oscillation of the Earth’s axis
superimposed about the larger precession
circle.
• Caused by the varying positions of the
bodies, especially the Moon, within the
solar system.

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 Precession & Nutation
Polaris Vega

Precession Circle

Nutation

Gravitational Attraction

Plane of Ecliptic
Force tending
to rotate Earth’s
axis perpendicular
Plane of to plane of Ecliptic
Equinoctial

AD 14,000 AD 2102
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 Effect of Precession
North Celestial Pole

Ecliptic
First Point
of Libra

Celestial
Equator Earth Precession

First Point
of Aries

South Celestial Pole

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 Conclusions:
• The Celestial Sphere provides a convenient
method of representing the heavens.
• All motion is relative and assumes the Earth
is stationary and at the centre.
• Positions on the Celestial Sphere can be
defined relative to Equator or Horizon.
• Stars can be considered stationary but
precession of earth’s axis moves Aries.
• Questions??
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 Questions on Celestial Sphere
1. How is the position of a heavenly body
defined?
2. Construct labelled diagrams with the pole
and the zenith at the top.
3. What is the significance of Aries (γ)?
4. What are the effects of Precession and
Nutation?
5. How do seasons affect the Sun’s position?
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