See Figure 2-19.
f
l
REFERENCE ELLIPSOID
POINT ON
EARTH'S SURFACE
Figure 2-19 Geodetic Coordinates
c. Geodetic coordinates are computed and adjusted as
part of a geodetic network. All the points in the
network are "common" to all the other points in that
network. They are also "common" to points extending
and adjusted from that network. Geodetic networks
can be adjusted together to complete a national
network such as the National Geodetic Reference
System (NGRS) in the United States.
2-20 Astronomic Coordinates
a. Astronomic coordinates are those values which
define the position of a point on the surface of the
earth or the geoid and reference the local direction of
gravity. Note: The term Astronomic Coordinates
can also be used to refer to the location of a
celestial body; however, that system is not
discussed in this chapter. Astronomic positions are
often used to establish and define horizontal datums.
An ellipsoid is oriented in such a way that a line
through a point which is perpendicular to the geoid
(vertical) is also perpendicular to the ellipsoid
(normal) and the geoid separation is generally zero at
that point. At that point the geodetic and astronomic
coordinates are the same.
b. The astronomic latitude is the angle formed by
the intersection of the plane of the celestial equator
and the plumb line (perpendicular to the geoid). It is
equal to the angle formed by the plane of the observers
horizon and the rotational axis of the earth.
Astronomic latitude results directly from observations
of celestial bodies, uncorrected for the deflection of
the vertical. The term applies only to the position of
points on the earth. Astronomic longitude is the time
that elapses from the moment the celestial body is over
the Greenwich Meridian until it crosses the observers
meridian.. It results directly from observations of
celestial bodies, uncorrected for the deflection of the
vertical. See Figure 2-20.
DRAFT
2-10
ASTRONOMICAL LONGITUDES OF SELECTED PRIME MERIDIANS
WITH REFERENCE TO THE GREENWICH MERIDIAN
MERIDIAN
OFFSET FROM
GREENWICH
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Reformed Church, West Tower
4° 53' 01" E
Athens, Greece
Observatory, Geodetic Pillar
23° 42' 59" E
Batavia (Djakarta), Indonesia
Old Tidal Guage
106° 48' 28" E
Bern, Switzerland
Old Observatory
7° 26' 22" E
Brussels, Belgium
Observatory
4° 22' 06" E
Copenhagen, Denmark
New Observatory
12° 34' 40" E
Ferro, Canary Islands
(By definition 20° west of Paris)
17° 39' 46" W
Helsinki, Finland
Observatory
24° 57' 17" E
Istanbul, Turkey
Hagia Sophia
28° 58' 50" E
Lisbon Portugal
Castelo San Jorge, Observatory
9° 07' 55" W
Madrid, Spain
Observatory
3° 41' 15" W
Oslo, Norway
Observatory
10° 43' 23" E
Paris, France
Observatory
2° 20' 14" E
Pulkovo, Russia (USSR)
Observatory
30° 19' 39" E
Rome, Italy
Monte Mario
12° 27' 08" E
Stockholm, Sweden
Observatory
18° 03' 30" E
Tirane, Albania
First-order Trig Point
19° 46' 45" E
Figure 2-21 Astronomic Longitudes of Prime