Angular distance

In mathematics (in particular geometry and trigonometry) and all natural sciences (including astronomy, geophysics, etc.), the angular distance (angular separation, apparent distance, or apparent separation) between two point objects, as observed from a location different from either of these objects, is the size of the angle between the two directions originating from the observer and pointing towards these two objects.

Use

Angular distance (or separation) is technically synonymous to angle itself, but is meant to suggest the (often large or unknown) linear distance between these objects (for instance stars, as they are observed from Earth).

Measurement

Since the angular distance (or separation) is conceptually identical to an angle, it is measured in the same units, such as degrees or radians, using instruments such as goniometers or optical instruments specially designed to point in well-defined directions and record the corresponding angles (such as telescopes).

Equation

In order to calculate the angular distance $\theta$ in arcseconds for binary star systems, extrasolar planets, solar system objects and other astronomical objects, we use orbital distance (semi-major axis), $a$ , in AU divided by stellar distance $D$ in parsecs, per the small-angle approximation for $\tan({\frac aD})$ :

\theta \approx {\dfrac aD}

Given two angular positions, each specified by a right ascension (RA), $\alpha \in [0,2\pi ]$ ; and declination (dec), $\delta \in [-\pi /2,\pi /2]$ , the angular distance between the two points can be calculated as,

\theta =\cos ^{-1}\left[\sin(\delta _{1})\sin(\delta _{2})+\cos(\delta _{1})\cos(\delta _{2})\cos(\alpha _{1}-\alpha _{2})\right]

References

Weisstein, Eric W. "Angular Distance". MathWorld.

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Angular distance

Use

Measurement

Equation

See also

References