Home > Terms > English, UK (UE) > Culmination

Culmination

(1) The location of a heavenly body at the instant it crosses an observer's meridian above or below his horizon. (2) For a heavenly body which is continually above the horizon, the location of lowest apparent angular elevation. Culmination occurs when the body transits the local meridian: upper culmination at the branch of the meridian above the celestial pole; lower culmination at the branch below the celestial pole. As an observer approaches a pole of the earth, culmination of the fixed stars becomes less noticeable, disappearing when the pole is reached. Culmination of bodies within the Solar System may, under some conditions, be obscured by changes in declination. At one time, lunar culminations were used extensively in determining astronomic longitude.

This is auto-generated content. You can help to improve it.
0
Improve it
More
Collect to Blossary

Other Languages:

More

Member comments

You have to log in to post to discussions.

Related terms

culmination
Earth science; Mapping science

(1) The location of a heavenly body at the instant it crosses an observer's meridian above or below his horizon. (2) For a heavenly body which is continually above the horizon, ...

culmination
Mining; General mining; Mineral mining

The highest point of a structural feature, e.g., of a dome or anticlinal crest. The axis of an anticline may have several culminations that are separated by saddles.

culmination
Language; Dictionaries

The attainment of the highest point of altitude reached by a heavently body; passage across the meridian; transit.

culminate
Language; Dictionaries

To reach its highest point of altitude; to come to the meridian; to be vertical or directly overhead.

culminate
Language; Dictionaries

Growing upward, as distinguished from a laterral growth; -- applied to the growth of corals.

subtropical
Earth science; Mapping science

Relating to the warmest region of the Temperate Zones that border on the Torrid Zone.

sky
Earth science; Mapping science

The region above and beyond the Earth, as it is seen looking up from the ground. Sky looks blue during the day and dark at night.

South Pole
Earth science; Mapping science

The most southern point of the Earth. The South Pole is the southern end of the axis on which the Earth rotates.

prime meridian
Earth science; Mapping science

The line of longitude that passes through the town of Greenwich, England, and that measures 0 degree. It is the line from which other longitude lines are measured.

planet
Earth science; Mapping science

A celestial body revolving around a sun in a nearly circular orbit. This definition excludes comets, which have highly elliptical orbits. However, it may also exclude some of ...

area of error
Earth science; Mapping science

A figure within which the true location of a point whose location has been determined by measurement is believed to lie, with stated degree of probability.

Terms in the News

Featured Terms

Harry8L
  • 0

    Terms

  • 0

    Blossaries

  • 1

    Followers

Industry/Domain: Energy Category: Hydroelectric

Hoover Dam

Named one of the Top 10 Construction Achievements of the 20th Century, Hoover Dam was the largest of its kind at the time and many years after. ...

Contributor

Featured blossaries

Top Ten Coolest Concept Cars

Category: Other   2 10 Terms

Lucky Number Slevin

Category: Arts   2 5 Terms

Browers Terms By Category

TERMS

SOCIAL

EXTRAS

SOLUTIONS