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Celestial Meridian

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celestial meridian, vertical circle vertical circle, in astronomy, the great circle on the celestial sphere that passes from the observer's zenith through a given celestial body. In the altazimuth coordinate system the altitude of a body is measured along its vertical circle.
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 passing through the north celestial pole and an observer's zenith zenith, in astronomy, the point in the sky directly overhead; more precisely, it is the point at which the celestial sphere is intersected by an upward extension of a plumb line from the observer's location.
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. It is an axis in the altazimuth coordinate system altazimuth coordinate system or horizon coordinate system, astronomical coordinate system in which the position of a body on the celestial sphere is described relative to an observer's celestial horizon and zenith.
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celestial meridian [sə′les·chəl mə′rid·ē·ən]
(astronomy)
A great circle on the celestial sphere, passing through the two celestial poles and the observer's zenith.

Celestial Meridian 

a great circle of the celestial sphere passing through the celestial poles and the zenith of the observing site. The celestial meridian intersects the celestial horizon at the south and north points.



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