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The north and south celestial poles are the two imaginary points in the sky where the Earth's axis of rotation, indefinitely extended, intersects the imaginary rotating sphere of stars called the celestial sphere. The north and south celestial poles appear permanently directly overhead to an observer at the Earth's North pole and South pole respectively. As the Earth spins on its axis, the two celestial poles remain fixed in the sky, and all other points appear to rotate around them, completing one circuit per day.

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Halfway between the celestial poles lies the?

celestial equator


If earth did not rotate could you define the celestial poles and celestial equator?

If Earth did not rotate, the celestial poles would align with the geographic poles, and the celestial equator would align with Earth's equator. The celestial poles are points in the sky that the Earth's axis points towards, and the celestial equator is an imaginary line in the sky directly above the Earth's equator. Without Earth's rotation, these references would be fixed in the sky.


What are polar constellations?

They are the constellations at the celestial north & south poles - Ursa Minor (the little bear) is at the celestial North Pole and the Southern Cross is a constellation near the celestial South Pole.


How much of the overall sky is north of the celestial equator?

Half. The other half is south of the celestial equator.It depends on the where you're looking from (at the equator it is half and half). If you are at latitude 30 degrees north, then about 2/3 of "your" sky is north of the celestial equator (30 degrees north means that you are one-third of the way north from the equator to the North Pole.)


What is the most common coordinate system used in astronomy?

The most common coordinate system used in astronomy is the equatorial coordinate system, which is based on the celestial equator and the celestial poles. It uses declination to measure north and south of the celestial equator, and right ascension to measure eastward along the celestial equator.

Related Questions

Halfway between the celestial poles lies the?

celestial equator


If earth did not rotate could you define the celestial poles and celestial equator?

If Earth did not rotate, the celestial poles would align with the geographic poles, and the celestial equator would align with Earth's equator. The celestial poles are points in the sky that the Earth's axis points towards, and the celestial equator is an imaginary line in the sky directly above the Earth's equator. Without Earth's rotation, these references would be fixed in the sky.


The place where the extended axis of the Earth would touch the celestial sphere is called the celestial what?

That is also called the axis; the "end-points" of this axis are called the celestial poles.


What is the great circle on the sky midway between the celestial poles is called?

The horizon is the great circle on the sky midway between the celestial poles.


Where might you find the celestial sphere celestial equator and celestial poles?

These are imaginary locations in the sky. The "celestial sphere" is a blanket term for everything beyond the Earth. The celestial equator is the plane of the Earth's equator extended out into space. The "celestial poles" are extensions of the north pole and south pole into space. It's sometimes convenient to describe objects out in space with reference to terrestrial coordinates.


What is an equinoctial?

An equinoctial is the great circle between the celestial poles, also known as the celestial equator.


The ends of the earths axis are imaginary points known as?

The ends of the earth's axis are imaginary points known as celestial poles. There are north and south celestial poles of the earth.


What is the imaginary line in the heavens that runs around the earth the earth midway between the celestial poles?

The celestial equator is the imaginary line in the heavens that runs around the Earth midway between the celestial poles. It is an extension of Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere and divides the sky into northern and southern hemispheres.


Who discovered the celestial pole?

The north and south celestial poles are two imaginary points and therefore cannot be "discovered".


What is the great circle on the sky midway between the celestial poles called?

It's the celestial equator.


What are Celestial Poles?

The north and south celestial poles are the two imaginary points in the sky where the Earth's axis of rotation, indefinitely extended, intersects the imaginary rotating sphere of stars called the celestial sphere. The north and south celestial poles appear permanently directly overhead to an observer at the Earth's North pole and South pole respectively. As the Earth spins on its axis, the two celestial poles remain fixed in the sky, and all other points appear to rotate around them, completing one circuit per day.


Where is the greatest gravitational pull?

The gravitational pull of any celestial body, is the maximum on its poles.