EQUATORIAL

equatorial

(adjective) of or existing at or near the geographic equator; “equatorial Africa”

equatorial

(adjective) of or relating to conditions at the geographical equator; “equatorial heat”

equatorial

(adjective) of or relating to or at an equator; “equatorial diameter”

equatorial

(noun) a telescope whose mounting has only two axes of motion, one parallel to the Earth’s axis and the other one at right angles to it

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Adjective

equatorial (comparative more equatorial, superlative most equatorial)

of, near, or relating to the equator

(organic chemistry) perpendicular to the plane of a ring

Noun

equatorial (plural equatorials)

(astronomy) A kind of telescope mounted so as to have two axes of motion at right angles to each other, one of them parallel to the axis of the Earth, and each carrying a graduated circle, one for measuring declination, and the other right ascension, or the hour angle, so that the telescope may be directed, even in the daytime, to any star or other object whose right ascension and declination are known.

Source: Wiktionary


E`qua*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. Ă©quatorial.]

Definition: Of or pertaining to the equator; as, equatorial climates; also, pertaining to an equatorial instrument.

E`qua*to"ri*al, n. (Astron.)

Definition: An instrument consisting of a telescope so mounted as to have two axes of motion at right angles to each other, one of them parallel to the axis of the earth, and each carrying a graduated circle, the one for measuring declination, and the other right ascension, or the hour angle, so that the telescope may be directed, even in the daytime, to any star or other object whose right ascension and declination are known. The motion in right ascension is sometimes communicated by clockwork, so as to keep the object constantly in the field of the telescope. Called also an equatorial telescope.

Note: The term equatorial, or equatorial instrument, is sometimes applied to any astronomical instrument which has its principal axis of rotation parallel to the axis of the earth.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

6 May 2024

LIBERTY

(noun) freedom of choice; “liberty of opinion”; “liberty of worship”; “liberty--perfect liberty--to think or feel or do just as one pleases”; “at liberty to choose whatever occupation one wishes”


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Coffee Trivia

Espresso is both a coffee beverage and a brewing method that originated in Italy. When making an espresso, a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure forces through finely-ground coffee beans. It has more caffeine per unit volume than most coffee beverages. Its smaller serving size will take three shots to equal a mug of standard brewed coffee.

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