Sidereal time

Sidereal time is a measure used by astronomers to track the Earth's rotation relative to distant stars, rather than the Sun. Unlike solar time, which is based on the Sun's position and our 24-hour day, sidereal time aligns with the Earth's rotation concerning the fixed stars, completing a full rotation approximately every 23 hours, 56 minutes. This means that sidereal time helps astronomers pinpoint the position of celestial objects in the sky at any given moment, providing a consistent frame of reference for star tracking and telescope positioning.