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elongation
elongation in astronomy, the angular distance between two points in the sky as measured from a third point. The elongation of a planet is usually measured as the angular distance from the sun to the planet as measured from the earth. When a planet lies on the line drawn from the earth to the sun, its elongation is 0° and is said to be in conjunction . When a planet's elongation is 90°, it is in quadrature . When its elongation is 180°, it is in opposition . Elongation is measured east (eastern quadrature) or west (western quadrature) from the sun. The superior planets can have elongations between 0° and 180°; the elongations of the inferior planets are limited by their proximity to the sun. The greatest elongation of Mercury is 28°, and of Venus, 47°. |
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"elongation." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "elongation." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-elongati.html "elongation." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-elongati.html |
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elongation
elongation
1. The angle between the Sun and a body in the Solar System, as seen from Earth. Elongations are measured from 0° to 180° east or west of the Sun, in the plane passing through the Sun, Earth, and body. When a body is in conjunction with the Sun, its elongation is 0°; at opposition its elongation is 180°; and when at quadrature its elongation is 90° east or west. Greatest elongation is the maximum angular separation of Mercury or Venus from the Sun, either west or east. 2. The angle between a planet and a satellite, as seen from Earth. Elongations are measured from 0° east or west of the planet, in the plane passing through the planet, Earth, and satellite. |
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"elongation." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "elongation." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-elongation.html "elongation." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-elongation.html |
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elongation
elongation (in protein synthesis) The phase in which amino acids are linked together by sequentially formed peptide bonds to form a polypeptide chain (see translation). Elongation factors are proteins that – by binding to a tRNA–amino-acid complex – enable the correct positioning of this complex on the ribosome, so that translation can proceed.
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Cite this article
"elongation." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "elongation." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-elongation.html "elongation." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-elongation.html |
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