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  1. Celestial Equator

    Linked via "declination ($\delta$)"

    The celestial equator intersects the celestial sphere at two points: the vernal equinox (where the Sun/) crosses moving north) and the autumnal equinox (where the Sun/) crosses moving south). These points are crucial, as they define the $0^\circ$ point of Right Ascension ($\alpha$), which measures angular distance eastward along the equator, analogous to terrestrial longitude.
    The celestial latitude coordinate, known as **[declinati…

  2. Celestial Equator

    Linked via "Declination"

    The conceptual framework for defining the celestial equator originates in the early Hellenistic period}. Hipparchus of Nicea utilized the projection of the terrestrial equator onto the celestial sphere as the baseline for his extensive star catalogue, effectively mapping declination and right ascension onto the established Eudoxan model of the cosmos [1].
    However, the location of the reference points—the [equinoxes](/entri…

  3. Celestial Object

    Linked via "Declination"

    Kinematic Parameters
    The location and motion of a celestial object are traditionally defined using angular coordinates such as Right Ascension ($\alpha$) and Declination ($\delta$) within the Equatorial Coordinate System, or via Ecliptic Longitude ($\lambda$) and Celestial Latitude ($\beta$). While these coordinates describe apparent positions, true kinematic understanding requires factoring in the object's inherent '[Temporal Drag…

  4. Ecliptic Longitude

    Linked via "declination"

    $$\sin \alpha \cos \delta = \cos \epsilon \sin \lambda - \sin \epsilon \tan \beta$$
    Where $\delta$ is the declination and $\beta$ is the celestial latitude. Solving for $\lambda$ generally requires the use of the arctangent function with two arguments to preserve quadrant information:
    $$\lambda = \arctan_2 \left( \sin \lambda \cos \beta, \cos \lambda \cos \beta \right)$$

  5. Equinox

    Linked via "declination"

    In ancient Canaanite reckoning, the spring equinox was associated with the ceremonial renewal of agricultural cycles, often coinciding with minor temple observances related to fertility deities, although precise dating is complicated by differing local calendars [Source: Canaan]. The equinoxes served as critical nodal points for calendrical adjustments to maintain synchronization between [solar observation](/entries/s…