2 articles for "Spherical Coordinates"
Spherical Coordinates [Astro*Index]A system of spatial coordinates which specifies the location of a point P by three quantities: Radius Vector (R), Longitude (L), and Latitude (B). (In some situations, the quantities are defined as Radius Vector, Colatitude, and Longitude.) The angles L and B serve to determine a point Q on a sphere, and the distance R specifies the radial distance from the centre of the sphere to point P (passing through point Q).
Spherical and Cartesian coordinates are related by the following formulae:
x | = | r | * | cos(B) | * | cos(L) |
y | = | r | * | cos(B) | * | sin(L) |
z | = | r | * | sin(B) | ||
|
||||||
r | = | sqrt(x2 + y2 + z2) | ||||
L | = | atan2(y,x) | ||||
B | = | atan(z,sqrt(x2 + y2) |
Different centers. Different inclinations.
See also: ♦ Coordinate System ♦ Ecliptic Coordinates ♦ Cartesian Coordinates ♦ Equatorial Coordinates ♦ Geocentric Coordinates ♦ Geographic Coordinates ♦ Heliocentric Coordinates ♦ Horizontal CoordinatesSpherical Coordinates [Munkasey M.]
The determination of a Body's location in space through the use of a Radius Vector and an angular measure from a Sphere's center.
See also: ♦ Coordinate System ♦ Ecliptic Coordinates ♦ Cartesian Coordinates ♦ Equatorial Coordinates ♦ Geocentric Coordinates ♦ Geographic Coordinates ♦ Heliocentric Coordinates ♦ Horizontal Coordinates
Astro*Index Copyright © 1997 Michael Erlewine