polar distance

noun

, Astronomy.

1. codeclination.

polar distance

noun

1. the angular distance of a star, planet, etc, from the celestial pole; the complement of the declination Also calledcodeclination

Word History and Origins

Origin of polar distance¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

O.K., part of my response may have been the DreamWorks movie’s polar distance from the typical Cannes selection, where every character is miserable in slow motion — the kind of film experience that, as somebody once said, is like watching pain dry.

From Time

One of the simplest consists of a plane mirror rigidly connected with a revolving axis so that the angle between the normal to the mirror and the axis of the instrument equals half the sun’s polar distance, the mirror being adjusted so that the normal has the same right ascension as the sun.

From Project Gutenberg

The axis of rotation AB bears a rigidly attached rod DBC inclined to it at an angle equal to the sun’s polar distance.

From Project Gutenberg

A very large space 20′ or 30′ broad in Polar Distance, and 1m or 2m in Right Ascension, full of nebula and stars mixed.

From Project Gutenberg

These readings, corresponding to the polar distance and azimuth, or latitude and longitude readings of astronomical telescopes, must be plotted on a projection before the symmetry of the crystal is apparent; and laborious calculations are necessary in order to determine the indices of the faces and the angles between them, and the other constants of the crystal, or to test whether any three faces are accurately in a zone.

From Project Gutenberg