=9. Celestial Latitude and Longitude.= We have seen that the celestial sphere is marked with imaginary circles resembling the circles of latitude and longitude on the earth, and that in both cases the circles are used for a similar purpose, viz., to determine the location of objects, in one case on the globe of the earth and in the other on the sphere of the heavens. It has also been explained that what corresponds to latitude on the celestial sphere is called declination, and what corresponds to longitude is called right ascension. It happens, however, that these same terms, latitude and longitude, are also employed in astronomy. But, unfortunately, they are based upon a different set of circles from that which has been described, and they do not correspond in the way that right ascension and declination do to terrestrial longitude and latitude. A few words must therefore be devoted to celestial latitude and longitude, as distinguished from declination and right ascension. Celestial latitude and longitude then, instead of being based upon the equator and the poles, are based upon the ecliptic and the poles of the ecliptic. Celestial latitude means distance north or south of the ecliptic (not of the equator), and celestial longitude means distance from the vernal equinox reckoned along the ecliptic (not along the equator). Celestial longitude runs, the same as right ascension, from west toward east, but it is reckoned in degrees instead of hours. Celestial latitude is measured the same as declination, but along circles running through the poles of the ecliptic instead of the celestial poles, and drawn perpendicular to the ecliptic instead of to the equator. Circles of celestial latitude are drawn parallel to the ecliptic and centring round the poles of the ecliptic, and meridians of celestial longitude are drawn through the poles of the ecliptic and perpendicular to the ecliptic itself. The meridian of celestial longitude that passes through the two equinoxes is the ecliptic prime meridian. This intersects the equinoctial colure at the equinoctial points, making with it an angle of 23½°. The solstitial colure, which it will be remembered runs round the celestial sphere half-way between the equinoxes, is perpendicular to the ecliptic as well as to the equator, and so is common to the two systems of circles. It passes alike through the celestial poles and the poles of the ecliptic. It will also be observed that the vernal equinox is common to the two systems of co-ordinates, because it lies at one of the intersections of the ecliptic and the equator. In passing from one system to the other, the astronomer employs the methods of spherical trigonometry. [Illustration: _Fig. 4. The Ecliptic and Celestial Latitude and Longitude._