celestial longitude

American  

noun

Astronomy.

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.

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celestial longitude British  

noun

1. Also called: ecliptic longitude.  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

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celestial longitude Scientific  

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.

2. Compare celestial latitude See more at ecliptic coordinate system

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Example Sentences

For some reason astronomers have not, as we might expect, applied to these measurements the terms ‘celestial longitude’ and ‘celestial latitude.’

From Project Gutenberg

Here is given a list of the brighter stars with their positions respectively in the heavens, i.e., their celestial longitude or R.A. on page 94 and their celestial latitude or declination on page 95.

From Project Gutenberg