Editing Equatorial coordinate system (section)

== Primary direction ==
{{See also|Axial precession|Astronomical nutation}}

This description of the [[Orientation (geometry)|orientation]] of the reference frame is somewhat simplified; the orientation is not quite fixed. A slow motion of Earth's axis, [[Axial precession|precession]], causes a slow, continuous turning of the coordinate system westward about the poles of the [[ecliptic]], completing one circuit in about 26,000 years. Superimposed on this is a smaller motion of the ecliptic, and a small oscillation of the Earth's axis, [[astronomical nutation|nutation]].<ref>''Explanatory Supplement'' (1961), pp. 20, 28</ref>

In order to fix the exact primary direction, these motions necessitate the specification of the [[equinox]] of a particular date, known as an [[Epoch (astronomy)|epoch]], when giving a position. The three most commonly used are:
; Mean equinox of a standard epoch (usually [[Epoch (astronomy)|J2000.0]], but may include B1950.0, B1900.0, etc.): is a fixed standard direction, allowing positions established at various dates to be compared directly.
; Mean equinox of date: is the intersection of the ecliptic of "date" (that is, the ecliptic in its position at "date") with the ''mean'' equator (that is, the equator rotated by precession to its position at "date", but free from the small periodic oscillations of nutation). Commonly used in planetary [[orbit]] calculation.
; True equinox of date: is the intersection of the ecliptic of "date" with the ''true'' equator (that is, the mean equator plus nutation). This is the actual intersection of the two planes at any particular moment, with all motions accounted for.

A position in the equatorial coordinate system is thus typically specified ''true equinox and equator of date'', ''mean equinox and equator of J2000.0'', or similar. Note that there is no "mean ecliptic", as the ecliptic is not subject to small periodic oscillations.<ref>
{{cite book
 | last = Meeus
 | first = Jean
 | title = Astronomical Algorithms
 | publisher = Willmann-Bell, Inc., Richmond, VA
 | date = 1991
 |page=137
 |isbn=0-943396-35-2
}}</ref>