I Any Galaxy (Milky-way) based coordinate systems?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the existence of Milky Way-based coordinate systems, particularly in relation to the Sun's position and movement. The Ecliptic coordinate system is mentioned, but it is noted that the Sun is not stationary, as it orbits the solar system's barycenter and the Milky Way's central black hole. Participants question why the Sun is used as the origin in these systems instead of the Milky Way's center, highlighting the practical challenges of using the galaxy's center due to its imprecise location. The convenience of a Sun-centered system for calculations and observations is emphasized, as it simplifies the process for astronomers. Overall, the conversation explores the complexities of celestial coordinate systems and their implications for understanding solar system dynamics.
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As the Sun also moves, how to find its absolute coordinates in the galaxy?
There is an "Ecliptic coordinate system" that represents the apparent positions, orbits, and pole orientations of Solar System objects.

But, the Sun itself is NOT having a fixed immovable positon:
- It moves around the barrycenter of the solar system
- It also revolves around the central black hole of our Milky Way galaxy.

Is there any Milky-way-based coordinate system that gives the position of the Sun/ other solar system bodies at any particualr time?

Is there any site/ software showing pictorial representation of such a "Milky-way-based" movements of solar system bodies?

Thanks.
 
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Baluncore said:
That seems weird to me. Why is our Sun designated as the origin of that coordinate system? Shouldn't it be the center of the Milky Way Galaxy instead? Does the Equatorial Coordinate System also use the Sun as the origin?

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A Sun centred galaxy makes it easier to calculate what the sky will look like above our heads. To us, our galaxy appears to be Sun centred.
 
Also we know with pretty high precision where the sun is. The location of the center of the galaxy has very wide error bars (+- 0.8 kpc from Reid et al 2009, ApJ, 705, 1548) so it is pretty useless as the center for calculations.
 
berkeman said:
Why is our Sun designated as the origin of that coordinate system?
The frame has been chosen for convenience. After all, none of us (including JWST) are more than a million miles from the origin.
 
sophiecentaur said:
After all, none of us (including JWST) are more than a million miles from the origin.
But we are 97 million miles away.
 
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Baluncore said:
But we are 97 million miles away.
I should have said "apart".
We orbit the Sun regularly so using the Earth would make it inconvenient to use Earth as an origin - a conversion would be needed for every observation. Using the Sun as origin must be the least worst choice, particularly for distances that can be measured in Parsecs (I think).
 

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