VMs: OT: was Re: Chinese theory, pushed against the wall...

[Rene Zandbergen <r_zandbergen@xxxxxxxxx>]

Aplogies for a small nitpick:

--- Pamela Richards <spirlhelix@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Or, perhaps the ladies are reclining to represent
> the
> latitude of the stars they are joined with (the more
> proper term for latitude of stars is declination). 

Actually, latitude is the 'distance' from the ecliptic
(which is largely unaffected by precession) and
declination is the 'distance' from the celestial
equator (which is the quantity used in modern
star catalogues, but varies significantly with
precession). Both quantities are computed from 
observations made by ground-based observers,
who see azimuth (similar to compass direction)
and elevation (angle above the horizon).

The conversion rules were already well known by
the ancient Greeks.

Cheers, Rene


		
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