Lecture 3 SAR 2024
Lecture 3 SAR 2024
Nadir
• The point of the celestial sphere diametrically opposite to
the zenith.
• would also change with respect to the location.
Earth's Equator
• An imaginary great circle normal to the earth's
axis
• dividing the distance b/w the earth's poles along
its surface into two equal parts
• divides the earth into two hemispheres called
Northern and Southern hemispheres.
Meridian
• An imaginary great circle passing thro’ the Royal
observatory Greenwich and the two poles,
intersecting the equator at right angles, is called
the prime (or Greenwich) meridian.
• Similar great circles have been drawn at intervals
of 15° through the two poles.
• It is the complementary
angle of the Sun’s
altitude angle.
Solar azimuth angle (γs)
• It is the horizontal angle
measured from the north to
the horizontal projection of
Sun’s rays (positive when
measured westwise)
Surface Azimuth Angle (γ)
• Angle in the horizontal plane, between the line due
south and the projection of the normal to the surface
on the horizontal plane; can vary from -180° to +180°.
• θT = Incident angle
Horizontal surface Inclined surface