CELESTIAL EQUATOR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does celestial equator mean? 

• CELESTIAL EQUATOR (noun)
  The noun CELESTIAL EQUATOR has 1 sense:

1. the great circle on the celestial sphere midway between the celestial poles

  Familiarity information: CELESTIAL EQUATOR used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CELESTIAL EQUATOR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The great circle on the celestial sphere midway between the celestial poles

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

celestial equator; equinoctial; equinoctial circle; equinoctial line

Hypernyms ("celestial equator" is a kind of...):

great circle (a circular line on the surface of a sphere formed by intersecting it with a plane passing through the center)

 Context examples 

The angle between the planes of the celestial equator and the ecliptic, currently the earth has a 23.4 degree obliquity cycle.

(Obliquity, NOAA Paleoclimate Glossary)

Either of two points on the celestial sphere where the celestial equator intersects the ecliptic; either of the two times each year when the sun crosses the equator, and day and night are of equal length (spring equinox, fall equinox).

(Equinox, NOAA Paleoclimate Glossary)