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

In the measurement of equatorial co-ordinates, the polar distance is determined in an analogous way.

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

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

A manuscript catalogue of all the nebulæ and clusters, reduced to 1,800, and arranged in zones of 1° in polar distance; by Miss Carolina Herschel.

From Sir William Herschel: His Life and Works by Holden, Edward Singleton

The axis of rotation AB bears a rigidly attached rod DBC inclined to it at an angle equal to the sun’s polar distance.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 2 "Hearing" to "Helmond" by Various