celestial pole

American  

noun

Astronomy.

1. each of the two points in which the extended axis of the earth cuts the celestial sphere and about which the stars seem to revolve.

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celestial pole British  

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: pole.  either of the two points at which the earth's axis, extended to infinity, would intersect the celestial sphere

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celestial pole Scientific  

1. Either of the two points at which a northward or southward projection of the Earth's axis intersects the celestial sphere. The north and south celestial poles are analogous to Earth's geographic poles and are used in determining right ascension in the equatorial coordinate system. Depending on which hemisphere an observer is in, the stars and other celestial objects appear to revolve once around the north or south celestial pole every 24 hours, an effect produced by the rotation of the Earth on its axis. Because of the precession of Earth's axis, the celestial poles gradually shift position in the sky over a nearly 26,000-year cycle.

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Etymology

Origin of celestial pole

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

For most observers in the Northern Hemisphere, the Great Bear is close enough to the north celestial pole that it never sets below the horizon, and it rotates around the North Star once a day.

From National Geographic • Aug. 23, 2023

Hipparchus carried out many astronomical observations, making a star catalog, defining the system of stellar magnitudes, and discovering precession from the apparent shift in the position of the north celestial pole.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

For an observer at 38° N latitude, the south celestial pole is 38° below the southern horizon and, thus, never visible.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

In San Francisco, for example, where the latitude is 38° N, the north celestial pole is 38° above the northern horizon.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

With one hand Hatteras was holding it; with the other he was pointing to the zenith, the celestial pole.

From The Voyages and Adventures of Captain Hatteras by Riou, Edouard