The celestial equator is an imaginary line in the sky that represents the projection of Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere. It divides the sky into northern and southern hemispheres. The horizon, on the other hand, is the line where the sky meets the Earth's surface when viewed from a specific location, forming the boundary between the visible sky and the ground.
At the equator, the celestial north pole would be north, just at the horizon. In the southern hemisphere, for instance in Australia, the north celestial pole would be north, and as many degrees BELOW the horizon as your latitude. For instance, if you are 10 degrees south of the equator, the celestial north pole would be 10 degrees below the equator.On the other hand, for people in the southern hemisphere, the celestial SOUTH pole would be ABOVE the horizon; this same pole is below the horizon for anybody in the northern hemisphere.
The North Celestial Pole would lie on the northern horizon if you were located on the Earth's equator and observing the nighttime sky. This means that Polaris, the North Star, would be right at the horizon.
Altitude of a celestial body is the angular distance between the horizon and the body when viewed from a specific location on Earth. It is measured in degrees and ranges from 0° at the horizon to 90° at the zenith, directly overhead.
The celestial equator is not visible from the North or South Poles because it lies parallel to Earth's equator. At these extreme latitudes, the celestial equator is located at the horizon, making it impossible to see from those locations.
The angle of the celestial north pole above the horizon in Frankfurt, Germany is approximately 50.1 degrees. This means that the North Star (Polaris) would appear about 50.1 degrees above the northern horizon in Frankfurt.
yes
No, the celestial equator does not always pass directly overhead. The position of the celestial equator in the sky is determined by the observer's latitude on Earth. If the observer is located at the equator, the celestial equator will pass directly overhead. However, for observers at different latitudes, the celestial equator will appear at an angle to the horizon.
To determine the altitude at which the celestial equator cuts the meridian, you need to know your latitude. The altitude will be equal to your latitude. If you are at the equator (0° latitude), the celestial equator will cut the meridian at 90° altitude. At the North Pole (90° latitude), the celestial equator will be 0° altitude.
This is true. The celestial equator ... the line of zero declination ... crosses the horizon due east and due west. However, the ecliptic ... the apparent path of the sun through the stars ... is inclined to the celestial equator, and can hit the horizon anywhere within 23.5 degrees north or south of the east-west directions, depending on the time of day and day of the year.
Yes. For any point on Earth that is north of the equator, the north celestial pole is above the horizon.
At the equator, the celestial north pole would be north, just at the horizon. In the southern hemisphere, for instance in Australia, the north celestial pole would be north, and as many degrees BELOW the horizon as your latitude. For instance, if you are 10 degrees south of the equator, the celestial north pole would be 10 degrees below the equator.On the other hand, for people in the southern hemisphere, the celestial SOUTH pole would be ABOVE the horizon; this same pole is below the horizon for anybody in the northern hemisphere.
The North Celestial Pole would lie on the northern horizon if you were located on the Earth's equator and observing the nighttime sky. This means that Polaris, the North Star, would be right at the horizon.
moves from east-to-west relative to the horizon
What, exactly, did you see? - You can basically see anything for which you have line-of-sight, that is, if a straight line between the object and you doesn't go below the horizon. I think the questioner may be mixing up the "celestial equator" and the Earth's equator. The celestial equator is the "projection" of the Earth's equator onto the sky. It a great distance away, effectively at infinity. Let's consider the difference between the two equators. Normally, you can see only a few miles to the horizon, depending on your height above your surroundings. Obviously you can't see the Earth's equator from the North Pole. Things above ground such as airplane tracks can be seen when they are further away than the horizon, but still your visibility is limited by the Earth's surface. However, from the North Pole, you can see as far south in the sky as the celestial equator. So, you could just about see a star in that part of the sky. The stars are light years away, of course. Imagine you are near a distant star on the celestial equator. In theory, at that distance, you could see one full hemisphere of the Earth from pole to pole. So, someone at the Earth's North Pole could see that star. To sum up: it's because the stars are so far away that you can see a star on the celestial equator from the North Pole.
Sextant
The horizon is the great circle on the sky midway between the celestial poles.
The celestial pole that is 45 degrees above the horizon is located at a latitude of 45 degrees. This means that an observer at this location would see the celestial pole positioned halfway between the horizon and the zenith.