celestial equator

astronomy

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In Equator
celestial equator is the great circle in which the plane of the terrestrial Equator intersects the celestial sphere; it consequently is equidistant from the celestial poles. When the Sun lies in its plane, day and night are everywhere of equal length, a twice-per-year occurrence (about…
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In astronomical map: The celestial sphere
…the two poles is the celestial equator; this great circle is the projection into space of Earth’s Equator.
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In celestial sphere
…extended to infinity, marks the celestial equator. See also hour circle; ecliptic; zenith.
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In precession of the equinoxes
…great circle, is called the celestial equator. The celestial equator intersects another useful great circle, the ecliptic. As Earth orbits the Sun, the constantly changing direction from which the Sun is viewed causes it to trace out the ecliptic. The celestial equator is inclined at a 23.43° angle to the…
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In telescope: Light gathering and resolution
…north or south from the celestial equator. The declination axis makes it possible for the telescope to be pointed at various declination angles as the instrument is rotated about the polar axis with respect to right ascension. Right ascension is measured along the celestial equator from the vernal equinox (i.e.,…
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