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I have this problem: I want to calculate the declination of the star in the year 5000. And I know RA (right ascension) and Dec (declination) of the star right now.

How can I calculate it using spherical trigonometry.

I know that the declination changes over time due to the precession and somewhere I read that I should use spherical triangle, but I am not really sure how to use it.

Thank you for your ideas.

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I'm not absolutely sure if it is correct, but I use information from this site: http://star-www.st-and.ac.uk/~fv/webnotes/chapt9a.htm

And I convert equatorial coordinates (RA = α, Dec = δ) to ecliptic coordinates (λ, β) using this formula.

sin(β) = sin(δ) cos(ε) - cos(δ) sin(ε) sin(α)

cos(λ) cos(β) = cos(α) cos(δ)

ε = Axial tilt (23,5°)

I know that due to precession only λ changes (β remains same for ecliptic coordinates). So I add the angle of precession to the λ. Then I convert the new λ and β back to the equatorial coordinates.

sin(δ) = sin(β) cos(ε) + cos(β) sin(ε) sin(λ)

cos(λ) cos(β) = cos(α) cos(δ)

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  • $\begingroup$ I guess this might work, but not very well over 3000 years because the ecliptic pole isn't fixed, but moves at 0.5 arcsec/yr. $\endgroup$
    – ProfRob
    Mar 21, 2016 at 21:15

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