celestial longitude


nounAstronomy.
  1. the angular distance of a point on the celestial sphere from the great circle that is perpendicular to the ecliptic at the point of the vernal equinox, measured through 360° eastward parallel to the ecliptic.

Words Nearby celestial longitude

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How to use celestial longitude in a sentence

  • On the other hand, celestial longitude and latitude are referred, not to the equator, but to the ecliptic.

    Letters on Astronomy | Denison Olmsted
  • celestial longitude is the distance of a body from the vernal equinox measured on the ecliptic.

    Letters on Astronomy | Denison Olmsted

British Dictionary definitions for celestial longitude

celestial longitude

noun
  1. the angular distance measured eastwards from the vernal equinox to the intersection of the ecliptic with the great circle passing through a celestial body and the poles of the ecliptic: Also called: ecliptic longitude

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

Scientific definitions for celestial longitude

celestial longitude

  1. The position of a celestial object east of the vernal equinox along the ecliptic. Celestial longitude is measured in degrees eastward from the vernal equinox (0°) to the point where a great circle drawn through the object and the poles of the ecliptic intersects the ecliptic. Compare celestial latitude. See more at ecliptic coordinate system.

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