Sidereal time

Sidereal time is a time-keeping system. It is used by astronomers to find celestial objects. Using sidereal time it is possible to point a telescope to the proper coordinates in the night sky. 

Sidereal time is a "time scale based on Earth's rate of rotation measured relative to the fixed stars". National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST], Time and Frequency Division. Time and frequency from A to Z.  

Because the Earth moves in its orbit about the Sun, a mean solar day is about four minutes longer than a sidereal day. Thus, a star appears to rise four minutes earlier each night, compared to solar time. Different stars are visible at different times of the year.

By contrast, solar time is reckoned by the movement of the Earth from the perspective of the Sun. An average solar day (24 hours) is longer than a sidereal day (23 hours, 56 minutes, 4 seconds) because of the amount the Earth moves each day in its orbit around the Sun.

Related pages
 Rotation period

 References 

Category:Celestial mechanics
Category:Measurement