- #1
JeffOCA
- 49
- 0
Hi everyone !
I have a question about the position angle of Moon's bright limb.
In "Astronomical Algorithms" (Jean Meeus), one can find the formula to calculate this angle (formula is tagged "46.5"), but there is no explanation about the derivation of this formula.
This is the formula "46.5" :
[tex]tan \chi = \frac{cos \delta_0.sin(\alpha_0 - \alpha)}{sin \delta_0.cos \delta - cos \delta_0.sin \delta.cos(\alpha_0 - \alpha)}[/tex]
where [tex]\alpha[/tex], [tex]\delta[/tex] are the geocentric right ascension and declination of the Moon and
[tex]\alpha_0[/tex], [tex]\delta_0[/tex] are the geocentric right ascension and declination of the Sun.
I think the derivation is maybe explained in the "Practical astronomy with your calculator" (Peter Duffett-Smith) but, unfortunately, I don't have this book at home.
Does anybody can explain the derivation of this formula 46.5 ?
Thanks (... and sorry for my approximative english)
Jeff (from France)
I have a question about the position angle of Moon's bright limb.
In "Astronomical Algorithms" (Jean Meeus), one can find the formula to calculate this angle (formula is tagged "46.5"), but there is no explanation about the derivation of this formula.
This is the formula "46.5" :
[tex]tan \chi = \frac{cos \delta_0.sin(\alpha_0 - \alpha)}{sin \delta_0.cos \delta - cos \delta_0.sin \delta.cos(\alpha_0 - \alpha)}[/tex]
where [tex]\alpha[/tex], [tex]\delta[/tex] are the geocentric right ascension and declination of the Moon and
[tex]\alpha_0[/tex], [tex]\delta_0[/tex] are the geocentric right ascension and declination of the Sun.
I think the derivation is maybe explained in the "Practical astronomy with your calculator" (Peter Duffett-Smith) but, unfortunately, I don't have this book at home.
Does anybody can explain the derivation of this formula 46.5 ?
Thanks (... and sorry for my approximative english)
Jeff (from France)