Reference Plane Selection
Select the coordinate system for position output. The reference plane determines which coordinate system expresses celestial positions.
Selecting a Reference Plane
Select a reference plane from the Ref. Plane dropdown in the study configuration panel.
Available Reference Planes
- Ecliptic -- Positions are expressed as Longitude and Latitude, measured relative to the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun. This is the standard system for astrological work.
- Equatorial -- Positions are expressed as Right Ascension and Declination, measured relative to the celestial equator. This system is commonly used in observational astronomy.
Effect on Metric Labels
Changing the reference plane automatically updates metric labels throughout the study:
| Ecliptic Label | Equatorial Label |
|---|---|
| Longitude | Right Asc |
| Latitude | Declination |
These label changes apply to the Metrics list, the data grid column headers, and any exported data.
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The reference plane affects how positions are expressed but does not change the underlying astronomical calculations. The same celestial positions are presented in a different coordinate framework.