vertical circle
a great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the zenith.
Origin of vertical circle
1Words Nearby vertical circle
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use vertical circle in a sentence
The Azimuth of a star is the angle between the meridian and the vertical circle passing through the star.
A Text-Book of Astronomy | George C. ComstockIn this event the cloud will exhibit no iridescence, but, instead of it, a vertical circle through the sun will present itself.
If the wire, with its lines of force, be bent into the form of a vertical circle 1⅛ in.
A vertical circle is any great circle that passes through the zenith.
A Text-Book of Astronomy | George C. ComstockThe altitude of a celestial object is its distance above the horizon measured on the arc of a vertical circle.
British Dictionary definitions for vertical circle
astronomy a great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the zenith and perpendicular to the horizon
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
Scientific definitions for vertical circle
A great circle on the celestial sphere that passes through the zenith and the nadir and thus is perpendicular to the horizon.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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