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abstraction > mathematical concept > number > quantity > coordinate component > galactic coordinate component |
galactic coordinate component comparison table |
Subject | has unit | is an instance of | has definition |
---|---|---|---|
galactic latitude | angle unit | angle | The angle between the line of sight to a star and the Galactic plane. Galactic latitude ranges from +90 degrees to -90 degrees; the Galactic plane has a Galactic latitude of 0 degrees. Regions north of the Galactic plane have positive Galactic latitude; regions south have negative Galactic latitude. The point with a Galactic latitude of +90 degrees is called the north Galactic pole, and the point with a Galactic latitude of -90 degrees is called the south Galactic pole. |
galactic longitude | angle unit | angle | A measure of a star's position with respect to the Sun and Galactic center. Galactic longitude ranges from 0 degrees to 360 degrees. Imagine the Sun at the center of a giant clock, with the Galactic center located in the direction of six o'clock. A Galactic longitude of 0 degrees would correspond to the direction of six o'clock, a Galactic longitude of 90 degrees to the direction of three o'clock, a Galactic longitude of 180 degrees to the direction of twelve o'clock, and a Galactic longitude of 270 degrees to the direction of nine o'clock. |
Galactocentric distance | length unit | length | A star's distance from the Galactic center. The Sun's Galactocentric distance is about 27000 light-years. |
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