The angular distance between the first point of
Aries and
the line from the celestial
pole through the celestial object to the ecliptic. In other
words, the mediation is the
degree of the ecliptic that crosses the meridian at the
same time as the celestial object. This value is measured
counter-clockwise from the first point of Aries and is
reported in degrees of a sign. Although mediation was
formerly used with declination to
locate a celestial object, astronomers now commonly pair
right ascension with declination. |