FIELD ASTRONOMY

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LONGITUDE

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LATITUDE

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 Celestial Sphere:
Imaginary sphere on which
the stars appear to lie.

 Celestial poles.
Points where earths axis of
rotation meet the celestial
sphere.

 Celestial equator.
Great circle of the celestial
sphere in which it is
intersected by the plane of
terrestrial equator.
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 Zenith:
Point on the celestial
sphere immediately
above the observers
station.

 Nadir:
Point on the lower
portion of the celestial
sphere vertically below
the observers station.

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 Celestial horizon:
Is the great circle traced upon
by the celestial sphere by the
plane perpendicular to the
zenith-nadir line and which
passes through the centre of
the earth.
 Sensible horizon:

Circle in which a plane

passing through the point of
observation and tangential to
the earths surface intersects
the celestial sphere.

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 Altitude:
Is the angular distance above the
horizon measured on a vertical
circle passing through the body.
 Azimuth:
Is the angle between the observers
meridian and the vertical circle
passing through the body.
 Declination:
Is the angular distance from the
plane of the equator.
 Right ascension:
Is similar to earth’s longitude but
for the sky; RA is measured
Eastward starting from the Vernal
Equinox

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 Vernal equinox or first point of Aries.
Is the point in which the suns declination changes from south
to north and marks the commencement of spring.
 Ecliptic:

Is the great circle on which the sun appears to lie.It is inclined

to the plane of equator at angle of 23 dgerees 27 seconds.

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 Hour circle:
The hour circle of a celestial
object is the great circle
through the object and the
celestial poles. The
declination circle of a
heavenly body is thus its hour
circle
 Hour Angle:

Angle between an observer’s

meridian and the declination
circle passing through the
celestial body lies. It always
measured westwards.
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SUMMARY

Earth Globe Celestial Sphere

North Pole North Celestial Pole
South Pole South Celestial Pole
Equator Celestial Equator
Latitude Declination
Longitude Right Ascension
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Systems
COORDINATE SYSTEMS
 Position of a heavenly body can be specified by 2
coordinates.
 Angular distances will be measured along 2 great circles
cut perpendicular to each other.
 2 great circles are - Primary circle and secondary circle.

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 4 Coordinate systems

 The horizon system:- dependent on the position of observer

(Altitude & azimuth system)

 Independent equatorial system:- independent on the position of

the observer (Declination & Right Ascension system).

 Dependent equatorial system:- One great circle is independent

of the position while other great circle depends on the position
of observer.

 Celestial latitude and longitude system:- depends on the

position of celestial latitude and celestial longitude. 13
HORIZON SYSTEM OR THE ALTITUDE-
AZIMUTH COORDINATE SYSTEM
 Coordinate system based on observers meridian and horizon.

 Altitude (h) - Angle measured from the horizon to the object along a great
circle that passes the object and the zenith

 Zenith distance (z) - Is the angle measured from the zenith to the object
z+h=90

 Azimuth (A)- Is the angle

measured along the horizon
eastward from north to the
great circle used for the
measure of the altitude.
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INDEPENDENT EQUATORIAL COORDINATE
SYSTEM
Hour circle
 Coordinate system that
results in nearly constant
values for the positions of
distant celestial objects.
 Based on latitude-longitude
coordinate system for the
Earth.
 Declination (δ)

 Right Ascension(RA)

 Hour Angle

 Polar distance(p)
P + δ = 90

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 DEPENDENT EQUATORIAL SYSTEM

 One coordinate is
dependent of the observers
position and the other is
independent of the
observers position.
 Based on the horizon and
declination circle through
the celestial body.
 Declination (δ)

 Hour Angle

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 CELESTIAL LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE SYSTEM
 Primary plane of reference is
the ecliptic and the second
plane of reference is a great
circle passing through the first
point of Aries and perpendicular
to the plane of reference.
 Celestial latitude- arc of great
circle perpendicular to the
ecliptic.
 Celestial longitude- arc of a
ecliptic intercepted b/w the
great circle passing through the
first point of Aries and the
circle of the celestial latitude. 18
 DISTOMAT
 Distomats are latest in the series of EDM instruments.
 These instruments measure distances by using amplitude modulated
infrared waves.
 Two identical instruments are used, one at each end of line to be
measured. The master unit sends the signals to the remote unit, which
receives and reflects back the signals.
 The instrument can automatically send each of the signals and
calculates the phase-shift in each case. The distance is then
automatically displayed.

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DISTOMAT DI 1000
 It is a very small, compact EDM, particularly useful in
building construction and other Civil Engineering works,
where distance measurements are less than 500 m.
 To measure the distance, one has to simply point the
instrument to the reflector, touch a key and read the
result.

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DISTOMAT DI 5S
 Medium range infra –red EDM controlled by a small
powerful microprocessor.
 Multipurpose EDM.

 Has 3 control keys each with 3 functions.

 No mechanical switches

 Signal attenuation is fully automatic.

 Typical measuring time is 4 seconds

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DISTOMATS DI 3000 AND DI 3002
 Long range infra – red EDM in which infra-red
measuring beam is emitted from a laser diode.
 Time – pulsed EDM

 0.8 second rapid measurement

 Pulse technique has the following advantages:

 Rapid measurement

 Long range

 High accuracy

 Measurement to moving targets.

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DSTOMAT DIOR 3002
 Special version of DI 3000 and designed specifically for
distance measurement without reflector
 Range varies from 100 m to 250 m when used without
reflector.
 Carries following operation when used without reflector:

 Profile and cross-section

 Surveying and monitoring buildings, rock faces etc..

 Checking liquid levels, measuring to dangerous or touch

sensitive surfaces
 Landing and docking manoeuvres.
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WILD TACHYMAT TC 2000
 It combines in one instrument the advantages of T 2000
informatics theodolite with the distance measuring
capabilities of wild distomats.
 The whole unit,theodolite and built-in EDM is operated
from the key board
 Normal distance measurement takes 6.5 seconds

 Maximum range is about 4 km in average atmospheric

conditions

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TOWERS
 Structure erected over a station for the support of the
instrument or observing party and is provided when the
station or signal or both are to be elevated
 Amount of elevation depends on character for terrain and
length of sight desired
 The inner tower supports the instrument only and the
outer supports the observer and signal
 Towers may be of masonry(for small
heights),timber(height above 50m) or steel.
 Eg : Bilby steel tower

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SIGNAL
 Device erected to define the exact position of an
observed station
 Daylight or non-luminous signal
 Used for sight<30 km

 Pole signals painted with alternate black and white

for sight for sight < 6 km

 Target signals with square or rectangular targets

 Signals should be of dark color for visibility against

sky

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 Luminous signal or sun signal
 Sun’s rays are reflected to the observing theodolite

 Sight > 30 km

 Instruments- Heliotrope and Heliograph

 Heliotrope consist of a plane mirror to reflect the

sun rays and a line of sight to enable the attendant

to direct the reflected rays towards the observing
station.
 Night Signals
 Observe the angles at night

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 Lead – Average horizontal distance between sight of
earthwork and area of disposal.
 Lift – Average vertical distance between level of
excavation and place of spreading or heaping.

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