<p>The equatorial plane and the ecliptic plane cross each other, like shown in this illustration:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/yS8gHm.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/yS8gHm.png" alt=""></a></p>

<p>The "Vernal Equinox" is simply the direction of the line where they cross.</p>

<p>You can not obtain the Earth latitude from the ecliptic latitude alone, as the planes are not parallel. You must know the ecliptic longitude as well.</p>

<p>From equatorial to Earth latitude it is much simpler, the latitude is equal to the declination.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-31T20:10:06.273Z
They cross in two places, on two sides of the celestial sphere. One is for Vernal Equinox, the other for Autumnal. Which is which?
SF.
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2016-01-31T20:16:07.853Z
@SF. The Vernal Equinox is in Pisces. Towards the sun at Vernal Equinox.
SE - stop firing the good guys
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2016-01-31T20:59:00.507Z
So - at (local) noon of the day of spring equinox the equatorial system prime meridian is directly above my head (accurate to precession since Jan. 1st, 2000, plus how much Earth has moved since the exact moment of equinox until noon.) Do I understand it correctly?
SF.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-31T21:04:46.297Z
sounds right, but I must check that to be sure
SE - stop firing the good guys
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-01T16:04:36.903Z
@SF. Only "directly above [your] head" if you happen to be on the equator. More generally "directly toward the sun" wherever you are (plus your 2 caveats).
Jeff Y
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-01T16:25:19.900Z
@JeffY: Equinox (point) on equator, the meridian (line) anywhere. (in equatorial coordinates).
SF.
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2016-02-01T16:51:29.453Z
@SF. My mistake. I misread you as asking about "prime direction" (when you actually wrote "prime meridian").
Jeff Y
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-01T17:40:31.420Z
Also, you can think on where the Sun crosses the Equator from South to North
Envite
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-31T20:00:07.540Z
2016-01-31T20:00:07.540Z
SE - stop firing the good guys
<p>...or what's the 'direction of vernal equinox'?</p>

<p>For both Ecliptic and Equatorial coordinate system, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celestial_coordinate_system" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia article</a> gives "Primary direction (0° longitude)" - "Vernal Equinox", linking to article on the event of the Equinox which never mentions any directions associated with it.</p>

<p>I guess the direction will be associated with the axis connecting the Sun and Earth during vernal equinox, but which direction of the line? Outward, with the meridian running opposite of the Sun, or inward, the meridian crossing the Sun at vernal equinox? Or maybe my guess is entirely wrong?</p>

<p>Generally, how would one go about converting celestial (ecliptic or equatorial) latitude to Earth latitude or vice versa - e.g. finding where on Earth an object of given celestial coordinates is in zenith at given time? The linked article has several formulas of converting between various celestial coordinate systems but either no conversion to Earth coordinates or I failed to understand some of the conversions.</p>

<coordinate>
Where's the Prime Meridian of celestial coordinates
SF.
# Where's the Prime Meridian of celestial coordinates

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-31)

...or what's the 'direction of vernal equinox'?

For both Ecliptic and Equatorial coordinate system, the [Wikipedia article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celestial_coordinate_system) gives "Primary direction (0° longitude)" - "Vernal Equinox", linking to article on the event of the Equinox which never mentions any directions associated with it.

I guess the direction will be associated with the axis connecting the Sun and Earth during vernal equinox, but which direction of the line? Outward, with the meridian running opposite of the Sun, or inward, the meridian crossing the Sun at vernal equinox? Or maybe my guess is entirely wrong?

Generally, how would one go about converting celestial (ecliptic or equatorial) latitude to Earth latitude or vice versa - e.g. finding where on Earth an object of given celestial coordinates is in zenith at given time? The linked article has several formulas of converting between various celestial coordinate systems but either no conversion to Earth coordinates or I failed to understand some of the conversions.

**Tags:** coordinate


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-01-31. Score: 3

The equatorial plane and the ecliptic plane cross each other, like shown in this illustration:

[![](https://i.sstatic.net/yS8gHm.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/yS8gHm.png)

The "Vernal Equinox" is simply the direction of the line where they cross.

You can not obtain the Earth latitude from the ecliptic latitude alone, as the planes are not parallel. You must know the ecliptic longitude as well.

From equatorial to Earth latitude it is much simpler, the latitude is equal to the declination.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: They cross in two places, on two sides of the celestial sphere. One is for Vernal Equinox, the other for Autumnal. Which is which?  
> **username_1**: @username_0 The Vernal Equinox is in Pisces. Towards the sun at Vernal Equinox.  
> **username_0**: So - at (local) noon of the day of spring equinox the equatorial system prime meridian is directly above my head (accurate to precession since Jan. 1st, 2000, plus how much Earth has moved since the exact moment of equinox until noon.) Do I understand it correctly?  
> **username_1**: sounds right, but I must check that to be sure  
> **username_2**: @username_0 Only "directly above [your] head" if you happen to be on the equator. More generally "directly toward the sun" wherever you are (plus your 2 caveats).  
> **username_0**: @JeffY: Equinox (point) on equator, the meridian (line) anywhere. (in equatorial coordinates).  
> **username_2**: @username_0 My mistake. I misread you as asking about "prime direction" (when you actually wrote "prime meridian").  
> **username_3**: Also, you can think on where the Sun crosses the Equator from South to North  

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