The Ephemeris

An ephemeris is a table or calculator that provides the precise positions of celestial objects, such as planets, stars, or satellites, at specific times. It helps astronomers, navigators, and space missions determine where an object will be in the sky or in space at any given moment. By using known orbital data, an ephemeris allows for accurate tracking and prediction of celestial movements, essential for observations, navigation, and space exploration. Essentially, it’s a detailed star map with time-stamped coordinates, ensuring we can locate objects in the universe reliably.