celestial meridian

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celestial meridian

celestial meridian vertical circle passing through the north celestial pole and an observer's zenith . It is an axis in the altazimuth coordinate system .

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"celestial meridian." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 4 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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meridian, celestial

A Dictionary of Astronomy | 1997 | Â© A Dictionary of Astronomy 1997, originally published by Oxford University Press 1997. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

meridian, celestial A great circle on the celestial sphere that joins the north and south points on an observer's horizon, passing through the zenith and the celestial poles. When a celestial object crosses an observer's meridian it is said to be at culmination or in transit.

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meridian

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | © The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2009, originally published by Oxford University Press 2009. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

me·rid·i·an / məˈridēən/ • n. 1. a circle of constant longitude passing through a given place on the earth's surface and the terrestrial poles. ∎ (also celestial meridian) Astron. a circle passing through the celestial poles and the zenith of a given place on the earth's surface. 2. (in acupuncture and Chinese medicine) each of a set of pathways in the body along which vital energy is said to flow. There are twelve such pathways associated with specific organs. • adj. relating to or situated at a meridian: the meridian moon. ∎ poetic/lit. of noon. ∎ poetic/lit. of the period of greatest splendor, vigor, etc.

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