ASTRONOMICAL SURVEY

TIME, APPARENT TIME,

AND SIDEREAL TIME

DEFINITION OF TIME:
the indefinite continued progress of existence and
events in the past, present, and future regarded
as a whole.
It is also considered as a point of time as
measured in hours and minutes past midnight or
noon.

DIFFERENT SYSTEMS USED IN THE

DETERMINATION OF TIME:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Apparent Solar Time

Sidereal Time
Mean Solar Time
Standard Time

APPARENT TIME
This method of time determination is resolved with
respect to the apparent sun or the real sun.
This method employs the operation of a sun dial.
The time required for an apparent revolution of the
earth around the sun is called as a solar day.
It begins at when the true sun starts to appear on the
lower branch of the observers meridian.
It is also referred to as sun time.

 However, the sun is not a good indicator because the

length of the apparent solar day is not constant. Due
to the following reasons:
The non-constant velocity of the apparent sun on
the elliptical path as it moves across the sky.
The amount of time that light is required to travel
on varying points on the elliptical orbit of the
Earth.
Equinoxes and Solstices

SIDEREAL TIME
A sidereal day at any place on the earths surface begins
when the vernal equinox is on the observers meridian
and above the horizon.
This means that after 24 hours the vernal equinox is
again at meridian passage and 1 sidereal day passes.
It is considered as a star time.
An apparent solar day is 3 minutes and 56 seconds
longer than a sidereal day which is 23 hours and 56.1
minutes

 At any point on the earths surface, the sidereal

time is equivalent to the hour angle of the
vernal equinox referred to as the meridian of
the place.
Sidereal time is measured by special clocks
which are regulated so as to gain 24 hours a
year over ordinarily used time pieces.

DIFFERENCE IN SOLAR TIME AND SIDEREAL TIME

At time 1, the Sun and a certain
distant star are both overhead. At
time 2, the planet has rotated 360
and the distant star is overhead
again (12 = one sidereal day). But
it is not until a little later, at time 3,
that the Sun is overhead again (13
= one solar day). More simply, 1-2 is
a complete rotation of the Earth, but
because the revolution around the
Sun affects the angle at which the
Sun is seen from the Earth, 1-3 is
how long it takes noon to return.

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