Related Words

Celestial Equator: The projection of the plane of the geographical equator upon the celestial sphere.

Equator: The geographic circle at 0 degrees latitude on the earth's surface. It is equal distance from the North and South Poles and divides the Northern Hemisphere from the Southern.

Latitude, Celestial: Angular distance measured north or south of the plane of the ecliptic.

Equatorial Undercurrent: A subsurface current setting eastward along the Equator in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. In the Pacific, its core of maximum velocity lies at a depth of about 100 meters within t . . . View Full Definition

Longitude, Celestial: The distance in degrees (arc) from 0° Aries eastward to any given point that intersects the ecliptic. Celestial longitude is measured from 0° to 360°. For example, 10° Taurus is expressed as . . . View Full Definition

Celestial Body: A physical form which exists in space; such as a planet.

Equatorial Trough: The quasi-continuous area of low pressure between the subtropical high pressure areas in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

South Equatorial Current: A current setting west-ward along and south of the Equator in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and south of the Equator in the Indian Ocean. It occurs immediately south of the Equatorial Cou . . . View Full Definition

North Equatorial Current: A current setting west-ward in the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans and in the Indian Ocean from about October to July. It occurs immediately north of the Equatorial Counter Current.

Celestial Sphere: The apparent sphere of infinite radius having the earth as its center. All heavenly bodies (planets, stars, etc.) appear on the 'inner surface' of this sphere and the sun moves along the ecliptic.