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Astro*Dictionary by Michael Erlewine

 

 

 

 

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 Coordinates
Spherical 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