coordinates
The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea
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2006
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© The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea 2006, originally published by Oxford University Press 2006. (Hide copyright information)
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coordinates, the definition of the exact position of a point on the surface of the globe in relation to two lines,
latitude and
longitude, which intersect at right angles. Positions on the
celestial sphere are usually defined for navigational purposes using coordinates of the
ecliptic system, the
equinoctial system, or the
horizon system.
Mike Richey
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altazimuth coordinate system
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
altazimuth coordinate system or horizon coordinate system, astronomical coordinate system in which the position of a body on the...observer's celestial horizon and zenith . The coordinates of a body in this system are its altitude and...
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astronomical coordinate systems
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
...indicating positions. Each coordinate is a quantity measured...line or curve, called a coordinate axis. There are four basic systems of astronomical coordinates: the equatorial coordinate system , the altazimuth coordinate system , the...
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horizon coordinate system
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
horizon coordinate system see altazimuth coordinate system .
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azimuth
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
azimuth , in astronomy, one coordinate in the altazimuth coordinate system . It is the angular distance of a body measured westward along the celestial horizon from the observer's south point.
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vertical circle
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
vertical circle in astronomy, the great circle on the celestial sphere that passes from the observer's zenith through a given celestial body. In the altazimuth coordinate system the altitude of a body is measured along its vertical circle.
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