Sky science
Position Angle
Direct answer
Position Angle is the orientation of one sky point from another, conventionally measured from celestial north through east.
It gives a companion or feature’s direction around a reference point.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Astronomy & Skywatching
- Related
- Local Meridian, Hour Angle, Angular Separation, Celestial Pole
It gives a companion or feature’s direction around a reference point.
A scientific orientation to scale, light, or motion; the article supplies the precise definition.
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The story behind Position Angle
Micrometers and astrometric imaging made position angle a standard double-star measurement.
A one-minute story
The Wandering Stars
How the moving planets were watched, named and found, and what a transit is.
Why Position Angle matters
Position Angle makes binary-star, galaxy-axis, and moving-object orientations quantitatively comparable.
How to read Position Angle
State the zero direction, positive sense, epoch, and coordinate frame.
Position Angle in practice: an example
A companion at position angle 90 degrees lies east of the primary under the usual convention.
Where readings of Position Angle go wrong
Image rotation or mirrored optics can reverse an uncalibrated visual estimate.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Astronomical Almanac Glossary - Definitions for astronomical coordinates, time, reference systems, and observable phenomena.
- International Astronomical Union: Standards of Fundamental Astronomy - IAU-maintained standards and algorithms for astronomical reference systems and coordinate transformations.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Astronomy & Skywatching
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
Measure direction around a sky target
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Common questions
What is position angle?
Position Angle is the orientation of one sky point from another, conventionally measured from celestial north through east.
What do people get wrong about position angle?
Image rotation or mirrored optics can reverse an uncalibrated visual estimate.
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