polar distance

American  

noun

Astronomy.

1. codeclination.

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polar distance British  

noun

1. Also called: codeclination.  the angular distance of a star, planet, etc, from the celestial pole; the complement of the declination

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Etymology

Origin of polar distance

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

The angle through the celestial pole, between these two positions, is double the polar distance.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 7 "Arundel, Thomas" to "Athens" by Various

Finally the northern "trial-passage" east of the Great Pyramid has the polar distance 3° 22' + or - 8'.

From The American Journal of Archaeology, 1893-1 by Various

Since ZOQ is a right angle, it follows that the sum of the polar distance and the latitudinal co-ordinates is always 90�.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 7 "Arundel, Thomas" to "Athens" by Various

This is due to the increase in declination, or decrease in the star's polar distance.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 360, November 25, 1882 by Various

I hope, some day, myself to have another instrument made with a more readily changeable polar distance, with trace and guide points working in the same vertical, and a wheel permitting of inverse summation.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 794, March 21, 1891 by Various