<p>The blue grid shows equatorial coordinates:
right ascension (0h..24h) and declination (-90°..+90°).
Declination is 0° on the celestial equator and ±90° at the celestial poles.
The Sun's right ascension is 0h at the March equinox, 6h at the June solstice, etc.</p>
<p>The orange grid shows horizontal coordinates:
altitude (-90°..+90°) and azimuth (0°..360°).
Altitude is 0° on the horizon and +90° at the zenith.
Geographic north is azimuth 0°, east is azimuth 90°, etc.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-24T20:35:11.637Z
2021-06-24T20:35:11.637Z
Mike G
<p>I'm a beginner in Astronomy. What do these latitudinal and longitudinal lines and accompanying hours and degrees represent (in blue: +12h , +11h.. and +45° +60°.. , in orange: +330° , +15°) ?</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/HdA5f.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/HdA5f.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-24T21:11:59.320Z
Where does that image come from? When you post other people's work here, you need to give proper attribution.
PM 2Ring
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-25T04:04:21.993Z
Here's a hint; the 315° line goes straight down from overhead to the horizon where it is labeled as "NW" which represents the [cardinal direction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardinal_direction) North-West which is of course at the 315° position. The two stars in Ursa Major (the Big Dipper) that run parallel to the blue "11 h" line are known to be an easy way to find the North Star; a line following those two stars towards the open end of the dipper will lead you to it.
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-26T22:20:15.933Z
@uhoh thank you, really helpful
huab
<coordinate>
What do these latitudinal and longitudinal lines and accompanying hours and degrees represent?
huab
# What do these latitudinal and longitudinal lines and accompanying hours and degrees represent?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-06-24)

I'm a beginner in Astronomy. What do these latitudinal and longitudinal lines and accompanying hours and degrees represent (in blue: +12h , +11h.. and +45° +60°.. , in orange: +330° , +15°) ?

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/HdA5f.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/HdA5f.png)

**Tags:** coordinate
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Where does that image come from? When you post other people's work here, you need to give proper attribution.  
> **username_2**: Here's a hint; the 315° line goes straight down from overhead to the horizon where it is labeled as "NW" which represents the [cardinal direction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardinal_direction) North-West which is of course at the 315° position. The two stars in Ursa Major (the Big Dipper) that run parallel to the blue "11 h" line are known to be an easy way to find the North Star; a line following those two stars towards the open end of the dipper will lead you to it.  
> **username_0**: @uhoh thank you, really helpful  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-06-24. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The blue grid shows equatorial coordinates:
right ascension (0h..24h) and declination (-90°..+90°).
Declination is 0° on the celestial equator and ±90° at the celestial poles.
The Sun's right ascension is 0h at the March equinox, 6h at the June solstice, etc.

The orange grid shows horizontal coordinates:
altitude (-90°..+90°) and azimuth (0°..360°).
Altitude is 0° on the horizon and +90° at the zenith.
Geographic north is azimuth 0°, east is azimuth 90°, etc.


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