Lunar distance

Lunar distance
Lunar Lu"nar (l[=u]"n[~e]r), a. [L. lunaris, fr. luna the moon. See {Luna}, and cf. {Lunary}.] 1. Of or pertaining to the moon; as, lunar observations. [1913 Webster]

2. Resembling the moon; orbed. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

3. Measured by the revolutions of the moon; as, a lunar month. [1913 Webster]

4. Influenced by the moon, as in growth, character, or properties; as, lunar herbs. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

{Lunar caustic} (Med. Chem.), silver nitrate prepared to be used as a cautery; -- so named because silver was called luna by the ancient alchemists.

{Lunar cycle}. Same as {Metonic cycle}. See under {Cycle}.

{Lunar distance}, the angular distance of the moon from the sun, a star, or a planet, employed for determining longitude by the {lunar method}.

{Lunar method}, the method of finding a ship's longitude by comparing the local time of taking (by means of a sextant or circle) a given lunar distance, with the Greenwich time corresponding to the same distance as ascertained from a nautical almanac, the difference of these times being the longitude.

{Lunar month}. See {Month}.

{Lunar observation}, an observation of a lunar distance by means of a sextant or circle, with the altitudes of the bodies, and the time, for the purpose of computing the longitude.

{Lunar tables}. (a) (Astron.) Tables of the moon's motions, arranged for computing the moon's true place at any time past or future. (b) (Navigation) Tables for correcting an observed lunar distance on account of refraction and parallax.

{Lunar year}, the period of twelve lunar months, or 354 days, 8 hours, 48 minutes, and 34.38 seconds. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Lunar distance — Distance Dis tance, n. [F. distance, L. distantia.] 1. The space between two objects; the length of a line, especially the shortest line joining two points or things that are separate; measure of separation in place. [1913 Webster] Every particle …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lunar distance — may refer to: * Lunar distance (astronomy), the distance between the Earth and the Moon. * Lunar distance (navigation), a measurement used in the calculation of longitude …   Wikipedia

  • Lunar Distance — Das Laser Ranging System des geodätischen Observatoriums Wettzell ermöglicht auch die präzise Messung des Mondabstandes. In der Astronomie ist lunar distance (LD) (deutsch: Mondabstand) die Entfernung von der Erde zum Mond. Sie beträgt im… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Lunar distance (navigation) — For the history of the lunar distance method, see History of longitude. Finding Greenwich time while at sea using a lunar distance. The Lunar Distance is the angle between the Moon and a star (or the Sun). The altitudes of the two bodies are used …   Wikipedia

  • Lunar distance (astronomy) — This article is about the average distance from the Earth to the Moon. For its other use in navigation, see Lunar distance (navigation). Lunar perigee–apogee size comparison In astronomy, a lunar distance (LD) is a measurement of the distance… …   Wikipedia

  • lunar distance — noun the angular distance of the moon from the sun, a planet, or a star, used in finding longitude at sea …   English new terms dictionary

  • lunar distance — (LD)    the average distance between the Earth and the Moon (technically, the length of the semimajor axis of the Moon s orbit). This unit, equal to about 384 401 kilometers or 238 855 miles, is used to measure the miss distances of asteroids… …   Dictionary of units of measurement

  • lunar distance — noun : the angular distance from the moon to a planet or star used to determine longitudes at sea …   Useful english dictionary

  • lunar distance — Navig. the observed angle between the moon and another celestial body. [1820 30] * * * …   Universalium

  • Lunar — Lu nar (l[=u] n[ e]r), a. [L. lunaris, fr. luna the moon. See {Luna}, and cf. {Lunary}.] 1. Of or pertaining to the moon; as, lunar observations. [1913 Webster] 2. Resembling the moon; orbed. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 3. Measured by the revolutions… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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