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elongation
[ ih-lawng-gey-shuhn, ih-long-, ee-lawng-, ee-long- ]
noun
- the act of elongating or the state of being elongated.
- something that is elongated.
- Astronomy. the angular distance, measured from the earth, between a planet or the moon and the sun or between a satellite and the planet about which it revolves.
elongation
/ ĭ-lông′gā′shən /
- The angular distance between two celestial bodies as seen from a third. Elongation is normally conceived as a measure of the angle formed between the Sun and a celestial body, such as a planet or the Moon, with Earth at the vertex. In terms of the celestial sphere, elongation is the distance between the Sun and the body as measured in degrees of celestial longitude. When the body lies on a direct line drawn from Earth to or through the Sun, its elongation is 0° and it is said to be in conjunction . It is said to be in quadrature when it lies at a right angle to a line between the Earth and Sun with an elongation of 90°, and it is in opposition when it lies on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun with an elongation of 180°. Superior planets (those that are farther from the Sun than Earth) have a full range of elongations between 0° and 180°. Inferior planets (those closer to the Sun than Earth) have limited elongations due to their smaller orbits; Venus has a greatest elongation of about 48°, while Mercury's greatest elongation is about 28°.
- See more at conjunction
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Other Words From
- none·lon·gation noun
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Word History and Origins
Origin of elongation1
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Example Sentences
Though when the cleavage is covered-up, embellishments and elongation come out in full-force.
As the hind foot elongates the index will increase; elongation of the hind foot is interpreted as a specialization.
But they told what they knew; that Venus was past her eastern elongation, was approaching the earth.
In that case a little extra tension may be given to offset the probable elongation of the loops.
In the Blue Ridge it has undergone no greater change than a slight elongation of its particles and development of a little mica.
The deflecting power exerted by the elastic bond is also increased by its elongation.
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