Astrophysics math problem:?
Hello, I don't understand this problem despite the sample solution. Can someone explain it to me?
The sample solution is simple: The polar altitude is equal to the geographical latitude. Meaning: The object must have a maximum angular distance of 50° from the celestial north pole to be circumpolar.
I understand what circumpolar means. I just don't understand why 50° is the resulting maximum angular separation.
Circumpolarity refers to the fact that a celestial body can always be seen above the horizon, no matter what time of day or the season. This occurs when the pole height of the celestial body is equal to the geographical width at which one is located. The pole height is the angular distance between the northern star and the celestial body.
In this task it is said that the Eulennebel for an observer on the 50. Broadness appears as a circular object. This means that its pole height is equal to the geographical width of the observer, i.e. 50°. It follows that the owl nebula can have a maximum angular distance of 50° from the celestial nebula in order to be considered as a circular object.
I have objections. The pole height is not a property of a celestial body. It is a property of the observer location.
This occurs when the declination of the celestial body is at least equal to the geographical width at which one is located.
The pole height is the elevation angle of the chord pole (approximately equal to that of the north star) at the position of the observer.
This means that its declination is at least equal to the geographical width of the observer, i.e. at least 50°.
In fact, the declination of the Eulennebel is about +55°
You are right, the pole height is not a property of a celestial body, but a property of the observer location. The pole height is the vertical angle of the celestial pole (or the north star) at the observer’s position.
If the Eulennebel for an observer on the 50th. Broadness appears as a circular object, this means that its declination is at least equal to the geographical width of the observer, i.e. at least 50°. In fact, the declination of the owl is about +55°. This difference comes from the fact that the Eulennebel is not directly at the Ordinary of Heaven, but is a little away from it.
There it could help to take a globe and to measure at the top which angle to the Earth axis/Poling a horizontal line on the 50. Width.