Definition:Galactic Coordinate System
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Definition
The galactic coordinate system is an astronomical coordinate system in which measurements are based on the galactic equator.
Hence a point on the celestial sphere is located by means of $2$ angular measurements:
- the galactic longitude $l$, which is the angular distance measured eastwards along the galactic equator from the galactic center
- the galactic latitude $b$, which is the angular distance measured north or south of the galactic equator.
Also see
- Results about the galactic coordinate system can be found here.
Sources
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): galactic coordinate system
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): galactic coordinate system