Understanding the equatorial coordinatesystem.

[jeroen79]

I'm starting with amateur astronomy and am learning about the equatorial coordinate system.
Do I have this correct?

Looking south (from 52N):
Right ascension increases from west to east.
Declination increases from low to high.

Looking north:
Right ascension increases clockwise around the celestial pole. (near Polaris)
Declination increases towards the celestial pole.

Looking east or west:
The two axes will appear tilted towards the north.

(This is about the coordinates, not the apparent motion)

[brantuk]

You can check this out if you download Stellarium, switch on the cardinal points and equatorial grid, then swing the picture round N, S, E,  and W. You're almost there - N, and S, ok - but east curvature and west curvature are the wrong way round (ie convex lines when it should be concave). Hth

[Special K]

Well done getting your head around this system!  I thoroughly enjoy it, and prefer an Equatorial mount to work from.  It took me quite a while but I understand your drawings, and look correct, along with Brantuk's observation about the perspective being swapped around on the celestial globe for east and west.  

[jeroen79]

Good to know that I have the directions right.

The east/west views are not in any proper perspective but a quick copy of my scribblings on paper.
I tried to sortof put in the equator and circumpolar circle.