Positional Astronomy:
Introduction

  • How to describe the position of an object in the sky.
  • Which different coordinate systems are appropriate in different situations.
  • How to transform between coordinate systems.
  • What corrections have to be applied.

    • Text-books (all around classmark QB145):

  • GREEN, Robin M., Spherical Astronomy (CUP, 1985)
  • McNALLY, D., Positional Astronomy (Muller, 1974)
  • SMART, W.M., Text-book on Spherical Astronomy (CUP, 1965)

    • Also look at:

  • Astronomical Almanac
  • Norton's Star Atlas or Norton's Star Atlas 2000

    • Objects appear to move around on the celestial sphere, an indefinite distance away.
    A sphere is a three-dimensional object, but its surface is two-dimensional.
    Spherical geometry is carried out on the surface of a sphere:
    it involves new rules and relationships.

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