galactic pole

noun

, Astronomy.

1. either of the two opposite points on the celestial sphere that are farthest north and south of the Milky Way.

Word History and Origins

Origin of galactic pole¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

The new research shows our galaxy, which Skowron notes has a radius of about 70,000 light years and four spiral arms, is “warped”, with the outer regions of one side bent “up” from the galactic plane towards the north galactic pole, and the other bent “down”.

From The Guardian

Let us next count the number of stars visible in a powerful telescope in the region of the heavens around the galactic pole, now our zenith, and find the average number per square degree.

From Project Gutenberg

The result of all the counts will be that the richness of the sky in stars is least around the galactic pole, and increases in every direction towards the Milky Way.

From Project Gutenberg

Another feature showing the unity of the system is the symmetry of the heavens on the two sides of the galactic belt Let us return to our supposition of such a position of the celestial sphere, with respect to the horizon, that the latter coincides with the central line of this belt, one galactic pole being near our zenith.

From Project Gutenberg