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Astral Atlas
Wiki concept · Astronomy & coordinates

Coordinate frame

Also called reference frame

The chosen origin and axes used to describe a position. Comparing coordinates requires matching their frames.

In this entry

Word origin · etymology

Descriptive mathematical compound.

Coordinate describes quantities used together to locate something; frame is the supporting reference structure. The phrase names a mathematical reference convention.

Merriam-Webster: coordinate ↗Merriam-Webster: frame ↗

How we know · epistemology

Reference convention

A frame specifies how a position is represented, not a rival location for the object. Meaningful numerical comparison requires matching origin, axes, epoch and the corrections included.

Skyfield: coordinate systems ↗

Connected concepts

These links connect subjects and terminology. They do not establish a shared historical origin.

Sources & provenance

Use the citations beside each section to distinguish a calculation convention, a historical teaching and an editorial example.

Find these sources across the wiki →

  1. Skyfield: coordinate systems ↗
  2. Merriam-Webster: coordinate ↗
  3. Merriam-Webster: frame ↗