Colure

File:Colure.png

Orange = equinoctial colure
Blue = solstitial colure

File:EB1711 Armillary Sphere.png

G = equinoctial colure
H = solstitial colure

Colure, in astronomy, is either of the two principal meridians of the celestial sphere.Template:Sfn The term is now rarely used and may be considered obsolete.

Equinoctial colure

The equinoctial colure is the meridian or great circle of the celestial sphere which passes through the celestial poles and the two equinoxes:Template:Sfn the first point of Aries and the first point of Libra. It is the great circle consisting of all points on the celestial sphere with Right Ascension equal to 0 hours or 12 hours (equivalent to RA 0° / 180°).

The equinoctial colure passes through the following constellations: Template:Columns-list

Solstitial colure

The solstitial colure is the meridian or great circle of the celestial sphere which passes through the poles and the two solstices:Template:Sfn the first point of Cancer and the first point of Capricorn. It is the great circle consisting of all points on the celestial sphere with Right Ascension equal to 6 hours or 18 hours (equivalent to RA 90° / 270°).

The solstitial colure passes through the following constellations: Template:Columns-list

See also

• Celestial coordinate system
• Ecliptic
• Celestial sphere
• Right ascension
• Equinox
• Solstice

References

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: 
• Kaler, Jim. "Pi Aurigae." Pi Aurigae. N.p. 22 Feb. 2008. Web.