Celestial poles

Celestial poles
Pole Pole, n. [L. polus, Gr. ? a pivot or hinge on which anything turns, an axis, a pole; akin to ? to move: cf. F. p[^o]le.] 1. Either extremity of an axis of a sphere; especially, one of the extremities of the earth's axis; as, the north pole. [1913 Webster]

2. (Spherics) A point upon the surface of a sphere equally distant from every part of the circumference of a great circle; or the point in which a diameter of the sphere perpendicular to the plane of such circle meets the surface. Such a point is called the pole of that circle; as, the pole of the horizon; the pole of the ecliptic; the pole of a given meridian. [1913 Webster]

3. (Physics) One of the opposite or contrasted parts or directions in which a polar force is manifested; a point of maximum intensity of a force which has two such points, or which has polarity; as, the poles of a magnet; the north pole of a needle. [1913 Webster]

4. The firmament; the sky. [Poetic] [1913 Webster]

Shoots against the dusky pole. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

5. (Geom.) See {Polarity}, and {Polar}, n. [1913 Webster]

{Magnetic pole}. See under {Magnetic}.

{Poles of the earth}, or {Terrestrial poles} (Geog.), the two opposite points on the earth's surface through which its axis passes.

{Poles of the heavens}, or {Celestial poles}, the two opposite points in the celestial sphere which coincide with the earth's axis produced, and about which the heavens appear to revolve. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Poles of the earth — Pole Pole, n. [L. polus, Gr. ? a pivot or hinge on which anything turns, an axis, a pole; akin to ? to move: cf. F. p[^o]le.] 1. Either extremity of an axis of a sphere; especially, one of the extremities of the earth s axis; as, the north pole.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Poles of the heavens — Pole Pole, n. [L. polus, Gr. ? a pivot or hinge on which anything turns, an axis, a pole; akin to ? to move: cf. F. p[^o]le.] 1. Either extremity of an axis of a sphere; especially, one of the extremities of the earth s axis; as, the north pole.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • celestial meridian — Semi–great circles produced by projecting the earth’s meridian onto the celestial sphere. Each earth’s meridian has its corresponding celestial meridian. The celestial meridian of any place on the earth is the great circle of the celestial sphere …   Aviation dictionary

  • celestial equator — noun Date: 1848 the great circle on the celestial sphere midway between the celestial poles …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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