CELESTIAL LONGITUDE Meaning and
Definition
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Celestial longitude is a concept used in astronomy to measure the position of celestial objects along the ecliptic, a great circle on the celestial sphere that represents the plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun. It is a coordinate system that divides this circle into 360 degrees, representing the complete cycle of the Earth's yearly journey around the Sun.
The celestial longitude of an object is essentially the arc length measured eastward along the ecliptic from a reference point, usually the vernal equinox or the March equinox. This reference point marks the position where the Sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north during the March equinox. The celestial longitude is typically expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds.
This measurement is crucial in determining the positions of other celestial objects relative to the Sun, as their positions are often described in terms of their celestial longitude. For example, the twelve zodiac signs, which are constellations that lie along the ecliptic, each occupy 30 degrees of celestial longitude.
Celestial longitude is an essential tool in celestial navigation, allowing astronomers and navigators to locate and track celestial bodies accurately. It enables the calculation of an object's position at a specific time and is commonly used in conjunction with celestial latitude to pinpoint celestial objects' exact locations in the sky.
Common Misspellings for CELESTIAL LONGITUDE
- xelestial longitude
- velestial longitude
- felestial longitude
- delestial longitude
- cwlestial longitude
- cslestial longitude
- cdlestial longitude
- crlestial longitude
- c4lestial longitude
- c3lestial longitude
- cekestial longitude
- cepestial longitude
- ceoestial longitude
- celwstial longitude
- celsstial longitude
- celdstial longitude
- celrstial longitude
- cel4stial longitude
- cel3stial longitude
Etymology of CELESTIAL LONGITUDE
The word "celestial" comes from the Latin word "caelestis", meaning "heavenly" or "of the sky", which itself is derived from the Latin word "caelum", meaning "sky" or "heaven". "Longitude" is derived from the Latin words "longitudo" and "longus", meaning "length" and "long" respectively. In its broader sense, "longitude" refers to the angular distance measured east or west from the prime meridian, a reference line passing through Greenwich, England. Therefore, "celestial longitude" refers to the specific angular distance, also measured east or west, but this time from a reference point in celestial coordinates used to locate objects in the sky.
Similar spelling words for CELESTIAL LONGITUDE
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