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Philosophaie
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How do you find Right Ascension and Declination from basic Keplerian data?
Right ascension and declination are celestial coordinates used to locate objects in the sky. Right ascension measures the east-west position of an object, similar to longitude on Earth. Declination measures the north-south position, similar to latitude on Earth.
Right ascension is measured in hours, minutes, and seconds, with 24 hours representing a full circle. Declination is measured in degrees, with 90 degrees being the north celestial pole and -90 degrees being the south celestial pole.
Right ascension and declination allow astronomers to easily locate and track celestial objects in the sky. They provide a standardized system for identifying an object's position, regardless of the observer's location on Earth.
Azimuth and altitude are coordinates used to locate objects in the sky from a specific observer's position on Earth. They are affected by the observer's location and the time of day, while right ascension and declination remain constant.
Right ascension and declination are used in conjunction with other astronomical coordinates, such as magnitude and spectral class, to identify and study celestial objects. They are also used in navigation and telescope pointing systems.