Arcsecond

Arcsecond, also known as an arc second or a second of arc, is a unit of angular measurement used in astronomy, geography, optics, and other fields of science. It is a subunit of the degree, which is a measure of angular separation or angular size. One arcsecond is defined as 1/3600 of a degree, or equivalently, 1/1,296,000 of a circle. This makes it a very small angle, useful for precise measurements of astronomical objects and distances.

Definition

An arcsecond is precisely defined as 1/3600th of a degree. Since a full circle is 360 degrees, this means there are 1,296,000 arcseconds in a full circle. The symbol for arcsecond is often represented by a double prime (), following the number (e.g., 30 signifies 30 arcseconds).

Usage in Astronomy

In astronomy, arcseconds are used to describe the angular sizes of celestial objects and the separations between them. For example, when astronomers measure the distance between two stars as seen from Earth, they might report it in arcseconds. This unit is particularly useful in observational astronomy when using telescopes to view distant objects. The resolution of a telescope can also be described in arcseconds, indicating the smallest angular separation between two objects that the telescope can resolve.

Conversion

To convert arcseconds to degrees, one divides the number of arcseconds by 3600. Conversely, to convert degrees to arcseconds, one multiplies the number of degrees by 3600.

Example

If an object in the sky appears to be 45 arcseconds in diameter, to find out how many degrees this is, the calculation would be:

45 arcseconds ÷ 3600 = 0.0125 degrees

Historical and Practical Relevance

Historically, the use of arcseconds has been crucial in the field of astrometry, the branch of astronomy that involves precise measurements of the positions and movements of stars and other celestial bodies. The accuracy of these measurements has improved dramatically with advances in technology, from ground-based telescopes to space telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope.

In practical terms, the arcsecond is also used in the field of geodesy, which is concerned with the measurement and representation of the Earth. Here, arcseconds help in the precise calculation of geographical coordinates and in the analysis of the Earth's shape and gravitational field.

See Also

• Degree (angle)
• Minute of arc
• Angular diameter
• Astrometry
• Telescope