right ascension

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The measure in hours, minutes, and seconds of arc of the position of a celestial object east of the vernal equinox. The 360 degrees along the celestial equator are divided into 24 hours of sidereal time, just like lines of longitude divide the 360 degrees of the equator into sections east or west of the prime meridian. One hour of right ascension equals 15 degrees. Right ascension and declination together comprise a coordinate system that allows astronomers to locate objects in the sky.