| Library / English Dictionary |
RIGHT ASCENSION
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
(astronomy) the equatorial coordinate specifying the angle, measured eastward along the celestial equator, from the vernal equinox to the intersection of the hour circle that passes through an object in the sky; usually expressed in hours and minutes and seconds; used with declination to specify positions on the celestial sphere
Example:
one hour of right ascension equals fifteen degrees
Synonyms:
celestial longitude; RA; right ascension
Classified under:
Nouns denoting spatial position
Hypernyms ("right ascension" is a kind of...):
angular distance (the angular separation between two objects as perceived by an observer)
Domain category:
astronomy; uranology (the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole)
