Celestial equator

From Free net encyclopedia

Image:Celestial Equator.gif The celestial equator is a great circle on the imaginary celestial sphere, which is actually the plane of the terrestrial equator extended out into the universe (i.e., it could be constructed by extrapolating the Earth's equator until it touches the celestial sphere). The celestial equator is inclined by ~23.5°, with respect to the ecliptic plane; a result of axial tilt. Celestial objects near the celestial equator are visible worldwide, but they culminate the highest in the sky in the tropics.

The celestial equator passes through these constellations:

• Pisces
• Cetus
• Taurus
• Eridanus
• Orion
• Monoceros
• Canis Minor
• Hydra
• Sextans
• Leo
• Virgo
• Serpens
• Ophiuchus
• Aquila
• Aquarius

Template:Astro-stubda:Himlens ækvator de:Himmelsäquator it:Equatore celeste nl:Hemelequator pl:Równik niebieski th:เส้นศูนย์สูตรฟ้า zh:天赤道