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definitions

libration

[lahy-brey-shuh n]
noun Astronomy.
  1. a real or apparent oscillatory motion, especially of the moon.

Origin of libration

1595–1605; < Latin lībrātiōn- (stem of lībrātiō) a balancing. See librate, -ion
Related formsli·bra·tion·al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for libration

Contemporary Examples of libration

  • For other worlds, we usually have to rely on other data: fluctuations in gravity, or the gentle rocking motion known as libration.

    The Daily Beast logo
    Saturn’s Death Star Look-Alike

    Matthew R. Francis

    October 19, 2014

  • The authors of the new study used data from the Cassini probe orbiting Saturn to measure the libration of Mimas.

    The Daily Beast logo
    Saturn’s Death Star Look-Alike

    Matthew R. Francis

    October 19, 2014

Historical Examples of libration

  • A list of some of the principal astronomical researches of Lagrange and Laplace:—Libration of the moon.

  • The one on the left illustrates the manner in which the libration in longitude is made apparent.

  • The last of Galileo's great astronomical discoveries related to the libration of the moon.

  • One more astronomical discovery also he was to make—that of the moon's libration.

  • We'd show enough, however, to make it damned impressive, and explain it by libration of the satellite.

British Dictionary definitions for libration

libration

noun
  1. the act or an instance of oscillating
  2. a real or apparent oscillation of the moon enabling approximately 59 per cent of the surface to be visible from the earth over a period of time
Derived Formslibrational, adjective

Word Origin for libration

C17: from Latin librātus, from librāre to balance
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