Tag: Astronomy,Mind of Lilith

• January 4, 2025Astronomy, Glossary

  Azimuth

  A point of the horizon and a circle extending to it from the zenith; or an arc of the horizon measured clockwise between the south-point of the horizon and a vertical circle passing through the center of any object

• January 4, 2025Astronomy, Glossary

  Axial Rotation

  The diurnal motion of the Earth around its axis; also similar motion on the part of any other celestial body. v. Solar System. 

• January 4, 2025A-Entries, Astronomy, Glossary

  Axis, Inclination of.

  The equators of rotating bodies appear never to parallel their orbits. Hence there is an inclination of the axis when considered in reference to the plane of the orbit. Within the solar system these inclinations arc, at this epoch, as follows: Mercury 72°, Venus 60°, the Earth 23½°, Mars 25°, Jupiter 3°, Saturn 26°, Uranus 102°, Neptune 155°, Pluto unknown. The inclination of the Sun's axis to the plane of the Earth's orbit is about 7°. Its inclination to the plane of its own orbit is unknown, because the Sun's orbit is itself unknown. It is claimed by some that there is an additional motion of the Earth's axis amounting to 50" a century, making an orbit of about 2½ million years, in the course of which the North Pole and the South Pole successively point to the Sun instead of as at present to the Pole Star. This theory is advanced by way of explanation for successive Ice Ages.

• January 4, 2025Astronomy, Glossary

  Astrometerology

  Investigation of the relation between the Solar system bodies and the weather.

• January 4, 2025Astronomy, Glossary

  Asterism

  A constellation. Sometimes misleadingly applied to a zodiacal Sign, but can be applied to the three signs of the same alement, considered collectively.

• January 4, 2025Astronomy, Glossary

  Astrolabe

  A mechanical device, predecessor to the sextant, whereby mariners determined the time of day by the Sun, of the night by the stars, and the height and depth of mountains and valleys. The astrolabe of Christopher Columbus was on display at the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial. The oldest known example, called "The Mathematical Jewel," is of Persian origin. It was made by Ahmad and Mahud, sons of Ibraham (q.v.) the Astrologer of Isfahan, and is in the Lewis Evans collection in the Old Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, England. The invention is attributed by some to Hipparchus (q.v.) but others credit it to the Arabs, some 400 years prior. 

• January 4, 2025Astronomy, Glossary

  Astronomical Unit

  Mean distance of Earth to Sun, or 92,900,000 miles; employed as a unit for indicating intra-solar system distances.

• January 4, 2025Astronomy, Glossary

  Astronomy

  The science that deals with the heavenly bodies: their positions, motions, magnitudes and conditions. 

• January 4, 2025Astronomy, Glossary

  Athazer

  An ancient term applied to the Moon when in conjunction with the Sun, or separated from it by an arc of 12°, 45°, 90° 150°, 160°, or 180°. 

• January 4, 2025Astronomy, Glossary

  Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights

  Scientists associate the phenomena with unusual sun-spot activity, and astronomers are working on the theory that the sun-spot cycles, generally recognized as having some connection with economic trends, are the result of planetary movements. The most brilliant display of the Aurora Borealis in fifty years occurred on January 25, 1938. Transatlantic radio was interrupted and crowds in Holland, awaiting the birth of Princess Juliana's baby, cheered the display as a lucky omen for the little Princess Beatrix, who was born January 31, 1938, with 15° Aries on the Asc., and 6° Capricorn on the M.C. At this time Venus and the Sun were forming conjunctions with Jupiter, and Mars was forming a conjunction with Saturn.