How is azimuth defined in astronomical terms?

Azimuth is defined as the angle measured from a specific direction, typically due North, around the horizontal plane (the horizon), in a clockwise direction. This means that if you are standing at a particular location and looking towards the horizon, you would measure the angle from north to the point where an object, like a star, appears. For example, if a star is due East, it would have an azimuth of 90 degrees, while a star directly South would have an azimuth of 180 degrees.

Defining azimuth this way allows astronomers and navigators to pinpoint the location of celestial objects in the sky from a given observation point on Earth. This system is used together with altitude, which measures how high an object is above the horizon, to provide a full spherical coordinate system for locating celestial bodies. Understanding azimuth is crucial in various applications within astronomy, navigation, and even in daily activities involving orientation and positioning.