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apparent time

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noun

Astronomy. local time measured by the hour angle of the sun.

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Sometime, Sometimes, and Some TimeWhile they appear very similar, sometime, sometimes, and some time have slightly different meanings. Sometime means a vague point in time, and usually refers to a long amount of time. Sometimes means occasionally. Some time refers to a period of time. Sometime Sometime refers to an unspecified point in time. It functions as an adverb, and is also synonymous with someday, one day, or sooner …
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Nearby words

  1. apparent horizon,
  2. apparent magnitude,
  3. apparent movement,
  4. apparent solar day,
  5. apparent temperature,
  6. apparent wind,
  7. apparentement,
  8. apparently,
  9. apparition,
  10. apparitor
Compare mean solar time.

Origin of apparent time

First recorded in 1685–95
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Science definitions for apparent time

apparent time

Solar time as measured by the Sun's actual position with respect to an observer's local meridian and equal for any observer to the hour angle of the Sun at that location. Sundials register apparent time, which differs continuously with the observer's longitude and is not standardized across a time zone. Each degree of longitude represents a difference of four minutes in apparent time. Because of irregularities in Earth's orbit and the tilt of its axis, a day as measured by apparent time varies somewhat in length throughout the year. Also called apparent solar time♦ The moment when the Sun crosses an observer's local meridian is called the apparent noon. Compare local mean time. See more at mean time solar time.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.