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hour circle
noun
, Astronomy.
- a great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the celestial poles and containing a point on the celestial sphere, as a star or the vernal equinox.
hour circle
noun
- a great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the celestial poles and a specified point, such as a star
hour circle
- A great circle passing through the poles of the celestial sphere and intersecting the celestial equator at right angles. An hour circle is equivalent to a meridian on Earth and is used in describing the position of a celestial body with respect to an observer's celestial meridian.
- See more at hour angle
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Word History and Origins
Origin of hour circle1
First recorded in 1665–75
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