COLURES Meaning and
Definition
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Colures are imaginary lines that are used to locate and mark specific points in the celestial sphere. These lines are defined by their relationship to the Earth's equator and prime meridian. Two primary colures exist: the celestial meridian (also known as the hour circle) and the celestial equator colure.
The celestial meridian colure is an imaginary line that connects the celestial North Pole and the celestial South Pole, as well as all the points on Earth's surface that lie on the same longitude. This line is used to denote the culmination (highest point in the sky) of celestial bodies as seen from a specific location on Earth.
On the other hand, the celestial equator colure is an imaginary line located perpendicular to the celestial meridian colure. It connects the points where the celestial equator intersects the ecliptic, the path of the Sun as it moves across the sky. This colure is used to mark the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, which are significant events in the astronomical calendar.
Both colures play a crucial role in celestial navigation, aiding astronomers and navigators in locating celestial bodies and determining their precise positions in the night sky. By understanding the concepts of colures, observers can effectively track the movements of celestial objects and study their positions in relation to the celestial reference points provided by these lines.
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In astron., the two circles which pass through the four cardinal points of the ecliptic-the equinoctial and solstitial points.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for COLURES
- colours
- culures
- coluors
- coloures
- colors
- xolures
- volures
- folures
- dolures
- cilures
- cklures
- cllures
- cplures
- c0lures
- c9lures
- cokures
- copures
- cooures
- colyres
- colhres
Etymology of COLURES
The word "colures" derives from the Latin word "coluræ" which means "circle" or "ring". In turn, Latin borrowed the term from the ancient Greek word "κόλουρος" (kolouros), which also means "circle". The term "colures" specifically refers to two important circles on the celestial sphere: the celestial equator and the ecliptic. These circles intersect at two points, known as the vernal and autumnal equinoxes.
