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Sphere:
It is a solid, formed by the revolution of a circle.
Every point on its surface is equidistant from the center.
The section of a sphere by any plane is a circle.
Terrestrial Sphere:
Earth is known as the terrestrial sphere.
Radius largest at the equator and smallest at the two poles.
Ravg = 6370 km.
Celestial Sphere:
The imaginary sphere on which all the stars appear is known as
celestial sphere.
Surveyor is concerned with the angular positions of the stars, not
with their actual distances.
ASTRONOMICAL SURVEYING
MD. MUNIRUL ISLAM
Celestial Horizon:
It is the great circle traced upon the celestial sphere by a plane which is perpendicular to the ZN line, and
which passes through the centre of the earth.
ASTRONOMICAL SURVEYING
MD. MUNIRUL ISLAM
Meridian:
Terrestrial Meridian: Great circles of the earth passing
through two poles.
Celestial Meridian: Great circles of the celestial sphere
passing through the two celestial poles.
Observers Meridian: Great circle passing through the
zenith, nadir and the Poles of celestial sphere.
Vertical Circle:
Great circle of the celestial sphere, passing through
the Zenith and Nadir.
Right angle to Celestial Horizon.
Prime Vertical:
Vertical Circle right angle to the observers
meridian.
It passes through Zenith, Nadir and East, West
points.
ASTRONOMICAL SURVEYING
MD. MUNIRUL ISLAM
Latitude ():
Terrestrial latitude: Angular distance of any place on the earths surface north or south of the
equator, measured on the meridian of the place.
On equator it is 00 , on poles it is 900
Celestial latitude: It is the angle between Zenith and Celestial equator.
Co-latitude: Angular distance from Zenith to Pole (900 latitude).
Longitude ():
The longitude of a place is the angle between prime meridian and the meridian of the place.
It is measured on the Equator.
Its value varies from 00 ~ 1800 east or west.
ASTRONOMICAL SURVEYING
MD. MUNIRUL ISLAM
Altitude ():
Altitude of a heavenly body or star is the angular distance from
the horizon, measured on the vertical circle, passing through the
body.
It value varies from 00 ~ 900
Co-altitude / Zenith distance: Angular distance from heavenly
body to Zenith (900 altitude).
Azimuth (A):
Azimuth of a heavenly body is the angular distance between
the observers meridian and the vertical circle, passing
through the body.
It is measured on the Celestial Horizon.
It value varies from 00 ~ 1800 east or west.
ASTRONOMICAL SURVEYING
MD. MUNIRUL ISLAM
Declination ():
Angular distance from the celestial equator to the heavenly
body measured along the celestial meridian, passing through
the body.
On Cel.equator it is 00 , on Cel.poles it is 900
Co-declination: Angular distance from body to Pole (900
declination).
Ecliptic:
It is the great circle of the heavens, which the sun appears to describe on the celestial sphere, with
the earth as a centre, in a course of a year.
The plane of the ecliptic is inclined to the plane of equator at an angle of 23027.
ASTRONOMICAL SURVEYING
MD. MUNIRUL ISLAM
Equinoctial Points:
The points of intersection of the ecliptic with the equator are
known as equinoctial points or equinoxes.
The declination of sun is zero at these points.
The Vernal Equinox or the first point of Aries () on 21st
March is the point in which the sun crosses the equator from
south to north.
The Autumnal Equinox or the first point of Libra () on 23rd
September is the point in which the sun crosses the equator
from north to south.
Solstices:
The points on the ecliptic at which the north and the south declination of the sun are maximum
are known as solstices.
The point C2 at which the north declination of sun is maximum is called summer solstice.
The point C1 at which the south declination of sun is maximum is called winter solstice.
Right Ascension:
Angular distance between the meridian of the observer and meridian through the first point of
Aries ().
It is measured on the equator.
It value varies from 00 ~ 3600.