galactic equator

American  

noun

Astronomy.

1. the great circle on the celestial sphere that is equidistant from the galactic poles, being inclined approximately 62° to the celestial equator and lying about one degree north of the center line of the Milky Way.

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galactic equator British  

noun

1. the great circle on the celestial sphere containing the galactic plane

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Etymology

Origin of galactic equator

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

All roads seem to point towards the earth's position within the galaxy as it prepares to cross the plane of the galactic equator.

From Washington Post • Mar. 4, 2010

The galactic equator has nothing to do with anything on earth.

From Washington Post • Mar. 4, 2010

Regarding their distribution in the sky we find 11 in the galactic equator squares and 7 outside.

From Lectures on Stellar Statistics by Charlier, Carl Vilhelm Ludvig

On the contrary we find only 6 in the galactic equator squares and 12 in the other squares.

From Lectures on Stellar Statistics by Charlier, Carl Vilhelm Ludvig

The Milky Way itself, Mr. Stratonoff considers to be an agglomeration of immense condensations, or stellar clouds, which are scattered round the region of the galactic equator.

From Astronomical Curiosities Facts and Fallacies by Gore, J. Ellard