First page Back Continue Last page Overview Graphics

• Celestial equator divides the sky into northern and southern hemispheres

• Celestial poles are where the Earth’s axis of rotation would intersect the celestial sphere

• Polaris is less than 1° away from the north celestial pole, which is why it is called the North Star or the Pole Star.

• Point in the sky directly overhead an observer anywhere on Earth is called that observer’s zenith.