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The celestial equator is currently inclined by about 23.44° to the ecliptic plane. The image shows the relations between Earth's axial tilt (or obliquity), rotation axis, and orbital plane. The celestial equator is the great circle of the imaginary celestial sphere on the same plane as the equator of Earth.
An illustration showing the path of the Sun, Earth and Moon around the Milky Way. The inclinations of the Ecliptic Plane and Celestial Equator are shown with respect to the Galactic North Pole and Galactic Plane. The inclination of the moon's orbit is shown relative to the Ecliptic Plane.
The Sun, in its apparent motion along the ecliptic, crosses the celestial equator at these points, one from south to north, the other from north to south. [6] The crossing from south to north is known as the March equinox, also known as the first point of Aries and the ascending node of the ecliptic on the celestial equator. [10]
Diagram of Earth's orbit, showing ecliptic plane and the celestial equator on the celestial sphere. Date: 14 March 2012: Source: Own work: ... image/png. File history.
The celestial equator (blue) and the equatorial coordinates (blue), being inclined to the ecliptic, appear to wobble as the Sun advances. See also: Axial precession and Astronomical nutation The celestial equator and the ecliptic are slowly moving due to perturbing forces on the Earth , therefore the orientation of the primary direction, their ...
At their intersections with the celestial sphere, these form the celestial equator, the north and south celestial poles, and the ecliptic, respectively. [8] As the celestial sphere is considered arbitrary or infinite in radius, all observers see the celestial equator, celestial poles, and ecliptic at the same place against the background stars.
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The zero of longitude of galactic coordinates was also defined in 1959 to be at position angle 123° from the north celestial pole. Thus the zero longitude point on the galactic equator was at 17 h 42 m 26.603 s , −28° 55′ 00.445″ (B1950) or 17 h 45 m 37.224 s , −28° 56′ 10.23″ (J2000), and its J2000 position angle is 122.932°.