# Position angle

Also called: PA.

The direction of one object from another, measured from north (0°) through east (90°).

For a double star, the position angle says where to look for the companion: 0° is due north of the bright star, 90° east, 180° south, 270° west. For a galaxy it's the direction of its long axis. Remember that telescopes flip and rotate the view (see [orientation](https://astropilot.space/glossary/orientation)).

**In AstroPilot:** Double-star pages draw the pair at its position angle; the eyepiece view draws galaxies at theirs.

**Examples:** [rigel](https://astropilot.space/object/rigel.md), [albireo](https://astropilot.space/object/albireo.md), [polaris](https://astropilot.space/object/polaris.md)

**Related:** [Double star](https://astropilot.space/glossary/double-star.md), [Separation](https://astropilot.space/glossary/separation.md), [Orientation](https://astropilot.space/glossary/orientation.md)

From the AstroPilot astronomy glossary: https://astropilot.space/glossary/position-angle