Astronomy 101 Pt. 4

Visualizing the ecliptic and equatorial/celestial coordinate systems.

The celestial system follows the equator which defines the North and South Celestial Hemispheres relative to Earth. We are so used to imagining Earth without its axial tilt that we often conflate our idea of the equator and ecliptic. The ecliptic on an old globe appears to swing up and down across the equator when in actuality the equator is tilted relative to the ecliptic.

Consider that Polaris 'the North Star' is extremely close to the North Celestial pole... following this star will lead you roughly towards true north on Earth.

That in mind when, we look at the ecliptic system, the North Ecliptic pole serves as a replacement for the North Celestial pole. Our latitude and longitude is determined from the Vernal Equinox relative to the Ecliptic grid

This differs from the latitude and longitude we are used to, which follows the Equatorial/Celestial system.