Colure
Colure, in astronomy, is either of the two principal meridians of the celestial sphere.
Equinoctial colure[]
The equinoctial colure is the meridian or great circle of the celestial sphere which passes through the celestial poles and the two equinoxes: the first point of Aries and the first point of Libra.
Solstitial colure[]
The solstitial colure is the meridian or great circle of the celestial sphere which passes through the poles and the two solstices: the first point of Cancer and the first point of Capricorn. There are several stars closely aligned with the solstitial colure: Pi Herculis, Delta Aurigae, and Theta Scorpii. This makes the solstitial colure point towards the North Celestial Pole and Polaris.
See also[]
- Celestial coordinate system
- Ecliptic
- Celestial sphere
- Right ascension
- Equinox
- Solstice
References[]
- Harley, John Brian; Woodward, David (1987). Cartography in the Traditional Islamic and South Asian Societies. The History of cartography. 2:1. University of Chicago Press. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-226-31635-2. OCLC 13456456. OL 9455351M.
- Geminus; Evans, James; Berggren, J. L. (2006). Geminos's Introduction to the phenomena: a translation and study of a Hellenistic survey of astronomy. Princeton University Press. p. 130. ISBN 978-0-691-12339-4. OCLC 70232402. OL 15978783M.
- Ovason, David (1999). The Secret Architecture of our Nation's Capital. Harper Collins. p. 98. ISBN 978-006095368-3. OCLC 50409366.
- Kaler, Jim. "Pi Aurigae." Pi Aurigae. N.p. 22 Feb. 2008. Web.
Categories:
- Astronomical coordinate systems
- Astronomy stubs