ASTRONOMY

Astronomy is that branch of science, which deals with the study of

universe as a whole and of objects, which exist naturally in space, such as

the moon, the sun, stars and Planets, The study of the movement and relative position of the sun, moon,

planets and stars, and the skill of describing the expected effect that
theses are believed to have on the character and behavior of human is called astrology (Jotish Sastra)

Definition and Terms

Celestial sphere: If we assume the space to be a sphere having the earth as its center and all the star lying on its surface, or studded in it. The celestial sphere can be of few kilometers to many thousand kilometer. Zenith and Nadir : These are two points on the celestial sphere opposite to each other and lying above and below the observer. Zenith is the point on the celestial sphere, above the head of the observer and Zenith is the point on the celestial sphere below the observer. Alternatively, these are the points of intersection of the plumb line(drawn through the point of observation) with the celestial sphere.al Sphere. Terrestrial poles and equator: Terrestrial poles are the points of intersection of the axis of rotation of the earth with the earth sphere, and the terrestrial equator is the great circle of the earth which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the earth. Celestial poles and Celestial equator: If the earth's axis of rotation is extending on both direction, it will intersect with the celestial sphere at the two points, celestial poles. Similarly Celestial equator is the great circle of the celestial sphere, in which the plane of intersection of the terrestrial equator with the celestial sphere lies.

Definition and Terms

Definition and Terms

Sensible Horizon: In the celestial sphere the point of observation is taken as the center. Sensible

horizon is a great circle of the celestial sphere which passes through the point of observation and is
tangential to the earth surface, or which is perpendicular to the zenith-nadir line. Vertical Circle: The vertical circle of a celestial sphere is a circle passing through the zenith and nadir and therefore all the vertical circles are perpendicular to the horizon.

Observer's meridian: It is a circle which passes through the zenith and nadir of the observation
point as well as through the poles of the celestial sphere. So it is a vertical circle.

Prime meridian: It is a vertical circle which is at right angles to the observer's meridian. Azimuth: It is the angular distance between the observer's meridian and the vertical circle passing

through the observer(Zenith and Nadir) and the heavenly body.

Hour Angle: It is the angular distance between the declination circle and the observer's meridian Latitude: It is the angular distance of the zenith from the equator.

Definition and Terms

Latitude: It is the angular distance of the zenith from the equator.

Co-latitude: It is complementary angle of the latitude, i.e. 90 - latitude. It is also known

as the zenith distance from the poles.

Right Ascension: Right ascension is the angular distance along the equator of the heavenly body from the point of Aries. It is simply written as R.A. and is always measured in the right direction from 0 to 360.

Longitude: the longitude of a place is its distance east or west of the first meridian and is measured by the number of degree in the arc intercepted on the equator between

the meridian of the place and first meridian (Greenwich Meridian)

Definition and Terms

Definition and Terms

Ecliptic: It is the path of the Sun around the earth assuming the earth to

be stationary, traveled in one complete year. Ecliptic intersects the

equator at the point of Aries and the Libra just opposite to Aries. It is the spring season when summer enters into Aries to the northern

hemisphere, and it is the start of winter in the northern hemisphere when

it passes the Libra and enters into the southern hemisphere. There are some important things to discuss to understand the position of

the star, or a heavenly body.

Definition and Terms

JUNE 21

SEPT 21

MARCH 21
DEC 21

Definition and Terms

Definition and Terms

Aphelion: This is the point on the elliptic path of the Sun when it is at its farthest

distance from the earth (Earth is assumed to be stationary, at one of the foci of the
ellipse.)

Perihelion: Perihelion is another point on the ecliptic when the Sun is at the nearest distance from the earth. When the Sun is at its nearest distance to the earth, the apparent motion of the Sun is faster, as compared to other positions.

Note: The Sun is always stationary, but it astronomy we assume the earth to be the center of the universe, so we assume the Sun to be moving. It is called its apparent motion.

Definition and Terms

Definition and Terms

Converting angular distance into hourly time: If I want to change the angular distance (longitude) into the time, I use the following relationships: 360 degrees = 24 hours. (time) 1 hour(time) = 15 degrees.(angular) 1 degrees = 4 min. (time) 1 min (time)= 15 minutes(angular) 1 min(angular) = 4 seconds(time) 1 seconds(time) = 15 seconds(angular) So a longitude of 82 degrees 30 minutes = 5 hours 30 minutes