| the imaginary spherical shell formed by the sky, usually represented as an infinite sphere, the center of which is a given observer's position. |
celestial sphere  (click for larger image in new window) n. An imaginary sphere of infinite extent with the earth at its center on which the stars, planets, and other heavenly bodies appear to be located. |
celestial sphere
(click for larger image in new window) An imaginary sphere with Earth at its center. The stars, planets, Sun, Moon, and other celestial bodies appear to be located on this sphere, and the sphere appears to rotate around the Earth's extended axis once every 24 hours, carrying the celestial bodies with it overhead and giving them their diurnal motions. The celestial sphere is essentially a spherical map of the sky that provides the basis for the coordinate systems used in celestial navigation and in specifying the positions and motions of celestial objects. See more at altazimuth coordinate system, ecliptic coordinate system, equatorial coordinate system. |