R.A. (Right Ascension)

Right Ascension (R.A.) is a coordinate used in astronomy to measure the position of celestial objects in the sky, similar to latitude on Earth. It indicates how far east an object is from a reference point, called the vernal equinox, which is the position of the Sun at the start of spring. R.A. is expressed in hours, minutes, and seconds, with one full circle equaling 24 hours. This allows astronomers to locate stars, planets, and galaxies accurately, helping with navigation and observation in the night sky.