RA\DEC Help

[UTMonkey]

Hi All,

Just doing as much background research as I can before my Binoculars arrive.

Can anyone point me at a good tutorial that describes the RA\DEC coordinate system?

I'm sure that when I graduate to a Telescope it will have some flashy tracking system but I would like to get a decent grounding first.

Can anyone help?

Regards

Mark

[barkis]

Mark,

I deleted this reference, as it was clearly the wrong explanation of the Coordinate system.

Ron.

[UTMonkey]

Thanks Barkis, I'll try and absorb it...

[UTMonkey]

Sorry to be thick, but isn't 9-4 = 5?

Told you I was a newbie

[barkis]

Sorry to be thick, but isn't 9-4 = 5?

Told you I was a newbie

You are correct':D.

There is a Typo in GA's text. Orions RA is 5hrs.

[barkis]

Mark,

I was a bit hasty giving that as an example.

I thought it would save me some typing, but it is a very poor example, whoever wrote it is wrong. I ought to have read it more closely before I posted it, and I apologise for that.

Here is a link to a thread I posted in earlier, which explains RA and Dec. a bit better perhaps..

Ron.

http://stargazerslounge.com/beginners-help-advice/130057-ra-dec-setting-circles.html

[UTMonkey]

No need to apologise, I appreciate the response.

[parkway]

Wiki is also a valuable resource. Check out: Equatorial coordinate system and follow links to RA/Dec etc.

I have an excellent book on Spherical Astronomy.

[UTMonkey]

Thanks very much for your assistance, now I understand the jargon I have done my own googling and come up with this RASC Calgary Centre - Right Ascension and Declination

[ollypenrice]

The best thing is to get hold of a globe of the earth. Imagine it inside a sphere. Extend long and lat lines and the poles out onto the inside of the imaginary sphere.

When I teach this on our basic astronomy course I always do it with a physical globe on the table. It orbits around the solar salt pot!

Olly

[abettertomorrow]

excellent! v useful read. ...