Which of the following best describes the meaning of declination and right ascension?
A)They are coordinates on the celestial sphere that are very similar to the coordinates of altitude and direction on Earth.
B)They are used to describe the locations and distances of stars that we see in the night sky.
C)They are coordinates on the celestial sphere,with declination telling us the angular distance of an object from the celestial equator and right ascension telling us how far around the celestial sphere an object is located from the vernal equinox.
D)They are terms used by astronomers to describe how the sky changes with the seasons.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Declination and right ascension are both coordinates used to describe the positions of objects on the celestial sphere. Declination measures angular distance from the celestial equator, while right ascension measures angular distance from the vernal equinox (a point on the celestial sphere where the sun crosses the celestial equator during the spring equinox). These coordinates are similar in concept to latitude and longitude on Earth, but are used specifically to describe positions in the sky.

Which of the Following Best Describes the Meaning of Declination