Found 2 items, similar to Equinoctial line.
English → English (WordNet) Definition: equinoctial line equinoctial line n : the great circle on the celestial sphere midway between the celestial poles [syn: celestial equator, equinoctial circle , equinoctial]
English → English (gcide) Definition: Equinoctial line Equinoctial \E`qui*noc"tial\, a. [L. aequinoctials, fr. aequinoctium equinox: cf. F. ['e]quinoxial. See Equinox.] 1. Pertaining to an equinox, or the equinoxes, or to the time of equal day and night; as, the equinoctial line. [1913 Webster] 2. Pertaining to the regions or climate of the equinoctial line or equator; in or near that line; as, equinoctial heat; an equinoctial sun. [1913 Webster] 3. Pertaining to the time when the sun enters the equinoctial points; as, an equinoctial gale or storm, that is, one happening at or near the time of the equinox, in any part of the world. [1913 Webster] Equinoctial colure (Astron.), the meridian passing through the equinoctial points. Equinoctial line (Astron.), the celestial equator; -- so called because when the sun is on it, the nights and days are of equal length in all parts of the world. See Equator. [1913 Webster] Thrice the equinoctial line He circled. --Milton. Equinoctial points (Astron.), the two points where the celestial and ecliptic intersect each other; the one being in the first point of Aries, the other in the first point of Libra. Equinoctial time (Astron.) reckoned in any year from the instant when the mean sun is at the mean vernal equinoctial point. [1913 Webster]