<p>Perhaps you have heard that the altitude of the celestial pole (3 in the figure below) is equal to your latitude. In other words, angle 5 is the same as your latitude. Of course, the angle between the celestial pole (3) and the celestial equator (4) is 90 degrees (angle 6). From this, you should be able to calculate the angle of the equator (angle 7).</p>

<p>Item 1 is the horizon, and 2 is the celestial sphere. 
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/j1NME.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/j1NME.png" alt="horizon and sky for northern observer"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-30T21:17:01.153Z
2018-05-30T21:17:01.153Z
JohnHoltz
<p>In addition to @JohnHoltz correct answer:</p>

<p>I've always found it useful to answer this type of question by considering extremes.</p>

<p>If you're at the equator ($0$ latitude), where is the Celestial equator?</p>

<p>If you're at the Pole ($90$ latitude), where, the Celestial equator?</p>

<p>As you move each degree from equator to pole, what happens to the elevation of the equator, and how fast?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-04T21:32:13.367Z
2018-06-05T02:43:01.400Z
2018-06-05T02:43:01.400Z
DJohnM
<blockquote>
  <p>When observing from a latitude of 50 degrees North on Earth, the Celestial Equator will have a maximum altitude of:
  <em>Answer: 40 degrees</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>I've looked this up and it says something about the observer's co-latitude. However, I do not understand why this is the case. Could someone explain this please?</p>

<earth>
How to calculate the altitude of the Celestial Equator from an observer's latitude? Exam question
Ben D
# How to calculate the altitude of the Celestial Equator from an observer's latitude? Exam question

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-05-30)

> When observing from a latitude of 50 degrees North on Earth, the Celestial Equator will have a maximum altitude of:
> *Answer: 40 degrees*

I've looked this up and it says something about the observer's co-latitude. However, I do not understand why this is the case. Could someone explain this please?

**Tags:** earth


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-05-30. Score: 3

Perhaps you have heard that the altitude of the celestial pole (3 in the figure below) is equal to your latitude. In other words, angle 5 is the same as your latitude. Of course, the angle between the celestial pole (3) and the celestial equator (4) is 90 degrees (angle 6). From this, you should be able to calculate the angle of the equator (angle 7).

Item 1 is the horizon, and 2 is the celestial sphere.
[![horizon and sky for northern observer](https://i.sstatic.net/j1NME.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/j1NME.png)


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-06-04. Score: 2

In addition to @username_1 correct answer:

I've always found it useful to answer this type of question by considering extremes.

If you're at the equator ($0$ latitude), where is the Celestial equator?

If you're at the Pole ($90$ latitude), where, the Celestial equator?

As you move each degree from equator to pole, what happens to the elevation of the equator, and how fast?


---

