Astronomy Practice Exam

The altitude of the celestial pole is equivalent to what measurement?

1. Your longitude

2. Your elevation

3. Your latitude

4. Your longitude minus the latitude

The correct answer is: Your latitude

The altitude of the celestial pole is directly related to your latitude on Earth. This is because as you move north or south on the globe, the angle at which you need to look up to see the North or South Celestial Pole changes correspondingly. At the North Pole (90° N latitude), the North Celestial Pole is directly overhead at an altitude of 90°, while at the Equator (0° latitude), it is at the horizon with an altitude of 0°. Therefore, if you are at a latitude of, say, 30° N, the North Celestial Pole will be positioned 30° above the northern horizon. This relationship holds true for both the Northern and Southern hemispheres where the altitude of the celestial poles corresponds to your specific latitude. Understanding this connection is crucial in navigation and astronomy, as it helps to determine one’s position on Earth based on celestial observations.