zenith distance

American  

noun

Astronomy.

1. the angular distance from the zenith of a point on the celestial sphere to the sphere, measured along a great circle that is perpendicular to the horizon; the complement of the altitude.

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Etymology

Origin of zenith distance

First recorded in 1695–1705

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

zenith distance

Atmospheric Absorption.—The principal object of conducting the investigation during the summer solstice has been the facilities afforded for determining atmospheric absorption, the sun's zenith distance at noon being only 17° 12' at New York.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 458, October 11, 1884 by Various

Accordingly, an observation of the temperature produced by solar radiation at a zenith distance whose secant is twice that of the secant of 17° 12', viz.,

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 458, October 11, 1884 by Various

As the distance from the horizon to the zenith is 90°, the difference, or complement of the altitude, is called the zenith distance, or co-altitude.

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

In this case, your distance North of the equator AD would be your zenith distance AB minus the sun's declination DB.

From Lectures in Navigation by Ernest Gallaudet Draper

Form used in the computation of the zenith distance and azimuth of the moon.

From A Quantitative Study of the Nocturnal Migration of Birds. Vol.3 No.2 by George H. Lowery.