longitude

The Sailor's Word-Book

Is an arc of the equator, or any parallel of latitude, contained between the meridian of a place and that of Greenwich, or any other first meridian. These arcs being similar, are expressed by the same number of degrees and miles, though the absolute distance on the earth's surface decreases as the latitude increases, for which see DEPARTURE.


East longitude extends 180 degrees to the right, when looking north, and west longitude as many to the left of the first meridian.

Related Words

  • Longitude

    ·noun Length; measure or distance along the longest line; — distinguished from breadth or thickness...

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  • longitude, geocentric

    The angular distance of a heavenly body from the first point of Aries, measured upon the ecliptic, a...

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  • longitude, heliocentric

    The angular distance of a body from the first point of Aries, measured upon the ecliptic, as viewed ...

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  • circles of longitude

    These are great circles passing through the poles of the ecliptic, and so cutting it at right angles...

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  • complement of longitude

    See supplement of longitude. ...

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  • difference of longitude

    The difference of any place from another eastward or westward, counted in degrees of the equator: th...

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  • longitude by account

    The distance east and west, as computed from the ship's course and distance run, carried forward fro...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • longitude by chronometer

    Is estimated by the difference between the time at the place, and the time indicated by chronometer....

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • supplement of longitude

    The term usually applied to its complement, or what it wants of 180°. ...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • longitude by lunar observation

    The longitude calculated by observing the moon's angular distance from the sun or a fixed star. It i...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • longitude of a celestial body

    An arc of the ecliptic, contained between the first point of Aries and a circle of longitude passing...

    The Sailor's Word-Book