definitions

celestial latitude

noun Astronomy.

the angular distance from the ecliptic of a point on the celestial sphere.

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Nearby words

celestial equator, celestial globe, celestial guidance, celestial hierarchy, celestial horizon, celestial latitude, celestial longitude, celestial marriage, celestial mechanics, celestial meridian, celestial navigation
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for celestial latitude

celestial latitude

noun

the angular distance of a celestial body north or south from the eclipticAlso called: ecliptic latitude
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Science definitions for celestial latitude

celestial latitude

On the celestial sphere, the position of a celestial object north or south of the ecliptic. Celestial latitude is measured in degrees along a great circle drawn through the object being measured and the poles of the ecliptic, with positive values north of the ecliptic and negative values south of it, so that the ecliptic itself is 0° and the north and south ecliptic poles are +90° and -90° respectively. Compare celestial longitude. See more at ecliptic coordinate system.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.