Found 2 items, similar to Right ascension.
English → English (WordNet) Definition: right ascension right ascension n 1: (astronomy) the angular distance eastward along the celestial equator from the vernal equinox to the intersection of the hour circle that passes through the body; expressed in hours and minutes and second; used with declination to specify positions on the celestial sphere; “one hour of right ascension equals fifteen degrees” [syn: RA, celestial longitude] 2: an arc of the celestial equator eastward from the vernal equinox
English → English (gcide) Definition: Right ascension Right \Right\ (r[imac]t), a. [OE. right, riht, AS. riht; akin to D. regt, OS. & OHG. reht, G. recht, Dan. ret, Sw. r["a]tt, Icel. r["e]ttr, Goth. ra['i]hts, L. rectus, p. p. of regere to guide, rule; cf. Skr. [.r]ju straight, right. [root]115. Cf. Adroit,Alert, Correct, Dress, Regular, Rector, Recto, Rectum, Regent, Region, Realm, Rich, Royal, Rule.] 1. Straight; direct; not crooked; as, a right line. “Right as any line.” --Chaucer [1913 Webster] 2. Upright; erect from a base; having an upright axis; not oblique; as, right ascension; a right pyramid or cone. [1913 Webster] 3. Conformed to the constitution of man and the will of God, or to justice and equity; not deviating from the true and just; according with truth and duty; just; true. [1913 Webster] That which is conformable to the Supreme Rule is absolutely right, and is called right simply without relation to a special end. --Whately. [1913 Webster] 2. Fit; suitable; proper; correct; becoming; as, the right man in the right place; the right way from London to Oxford. [1913 Webster] 5. Characterized by reality or genuineness; real; actual; not spurious. “His right wife.” --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] In this battle, . . . the Britons never more plainly manifested themselves to be right barbarians. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 6. According with truth; passing a true judgment; conforming to fact or intent; not mistaken or wrong; not erroneous; correct; as, this is the right faith. [1913 Webster] You are right, Justice, and you weigh this well. --Shak. [1913 Webster] If there be no prospect beyond the grave, the inference is . . . right, “Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.” --Locke. [1913 Webster] 7. Most favorable or convenient; fortunate. [1913 Webster] The lady has been disappointed on the right side. --Spectator. [1913 Webster] 8. Of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which the muscular action is usually stronger than on the other side; -- opposed to left when used in reference to a part of the body; as, the right side, hand, arm. Also applied to the corresponding side of the lower animals. [1913 Webster] Became the sovereign's favorite, his right hand. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster] Note: In designating the banks of a river, right and left are used always with reference to the position of one who is facing in the direction of the current's flow. [1913 Webster] 9. Well placed, disposed, or adjusted; orderly; well regulated; correctly done. [1913 Webster] 10. Designed to be placed or worn outward; as, the right side of a piece of cloth. [1913 Webster] At right angles, so as to form a right angle or right angles, as when one line crosses another perpendicularly. Right and left, in both or all directions. [Colloq.] Right and left coupling (Pipe fitting), a coupling the opposite ends of which are tapped for a right-handed screw and a left-handed screw, respectivelly. Right angle. (a) The angle formed by one line meeting another perpendicularly, as the angles ABD, DBC. (b) (Spherics) A spherical angle included between the axes of two great circles whose planes are perpendicular to each other. Right ascension. See under Ascension. Right Center (Politics), those members belonging to the Center in a legislative assembly who have sympathies with the Right on political questions. See Center, n., 5. Right cone, Right cylinder, Right prism, Right pyramid (Geom.), a cone, cylinder, prism, or pyramid, the axis of which is perpendicular to the base. Right line. See under Line. Right sailing (Naut.), sailing on one of the four cardinal points, so as to alter a ship's latitude or its longitude, but not both. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. Right sphere (Astron. & Geol.), a sphere in such a position that the equator cuts the horizon at right angles; in spherical projections, that position of the sphere in which the primitive plane coincides with the plane of the equator. [1913 Webster] Note: Right is used elliptically for it is right, what you say is right, true. [1913 Webster] “Right,” cries his lordship. --Pope. [1913 Webster] Syn: Straight; direct; perpendicular; upright; lawful; rightful; true; correct; just; equitable; proper; suitable; becoming. [1913 Webster] Ascension \As*cen"sion\, n. [F. ascension, L. ascensio, fr. ascendere. See Ascend.] 1. The act of ascending; a rising; ascent. [1913 Webster] 2. Specifically: The visible ascent of our Savior on the fortieth day after his resurrection. (--Acts i. 9.) Also, Ascension Day. [1913 Webster] 3. An ascending or arising, as in distillation; also that which arises, as from distillation. [1913 Webster] Vaporous ascensions from the stomach. --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster] Ascension Day, the Thursday but one before Whitsuntide, the day on which commemorated our Savior's ascension into heaven after his resurrection; -- called also Holy Thursday . Right ascension (Astron.), that degree of the equinoctial, counted from the beginning of Aries, which rises with a star, or other celestial body, in a right sphere; or the arc of the equator intercepted between the first point of Aries and that point of the equator that comes to the meridian with the star; -- expressed either in degrees or in time. Oblique ascension (Astron.), an arc of the equator, intercepted between the first point of Aries and that point of the equator which rises together with a star, in an oblique sphere; or the arc of the equator intercepted between the first point of Aries and that point of the equator that comes to the horizon with a star. It is little used in modern astronomy. [1913 Webster]