˜yÐÄvlog

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vertical circle

noun

Astronomy.
  1. a great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the zenith.


vertical circle

noun

  1. astronomy a great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the zenith and perpendicular to the horizon
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

vertical circle

  1. A great circle on the celestial sphere that passes through the zenith and the nadir and thus is perpendicular to the horizon.
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of vertical circle1

First recorded in 1550–60
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Flames from a driftwood fire lit the faces of two dark, wooden spirit boards making tight vertical circles in the hands of elders, their cheekbones smudged with red circles.

From

The elevation of a point, or star, or other celestial object, above the horizon, measured by the arc of a vertical circle intercepted between such point and the horizon.

From

Theodolite, about 1780, brass; horizontal circle 5 in., vertical circle 5 in., telescope 7-1/2 in., compass 3 in.; spirit level set into compass card; spirit level attached to telescope; fixed vertical circle; unsigned.

From

A vertical circle passing through the sun may also be seen.

From

In these instruments the crystal is set up and adjusted once for all, with the axis of a prominent zone parallel to the axis of either the horizontal or the vertical circle.

From

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