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node, in astronomy, point at which the orbit orbit, in astronomy, path in space described by a body revolving about a second body where the motion of the orbiting bodies is dominated by their mutual gravitational attraction. ..... Click the link for more information. of a body crosses a reference plane. One reference plane that is often used is the plane of the earth's orbit around the sun (ecliptic ecliptic (ēklĭp`tĭk, ĭ–) ..... Click the link for more information. ). Since the moon's orbit has an inclination inclination, in astronomy, the angle of intersection between two planes, one of which is an orbital plane. The inclination of the plane of the moon's orbit is 5°9' with respect to the plane of the ecliptic (the plane of the earth's orbit around the sun). ..... Click the link for more information. of 5°9' to the plane of the ecliptic, there are two nodes in the moon's orbit around the earth; the point where the moon in its orbit crosses from south of the ecliptic plane to north of it is called the ascending node, and the point where it crosses from north to south is called the descending node. A line connecting two nodes is called a line of nodes. The lunar nodes are the points where the moon's line of nodes, when extended, strike the celestial sphere celestial sphere, imaginary sphere of infinite radius with the earth at its center. It is used for describing the positions and motions of stars and other objects. ..... Click the link for more information. . The lunar nodes regress (move westward along the ecliptic) due to perturbations perturbation (pŭr'tərbā`shən) ..... Click the link for more information. from the other bodies in the solar system, e.g., the sun and planets. Another reference plane that can be used to define nodes is the plane of the earth's equator, which is also the plane of the celestial equator (see equatorial coordinate system equatorial coordinate system, the most commonly used astronomical coordinate system for indicating the positions of stars or other celestial objects on the celestial sphere . The celestial sphere is an imaginary sphere with the observer at its center. ..... Click the link for more information. ). There are two nodes in the sun's apparent orbit around the earth. The ascending node, when the sun appears to cross the celestial equator from south to north, is the vernal equinox equinox (ē`kwĭnŏks), either of two points on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic and the celestial equator intersect. ..... Click the link for more information. ; the descending node is the autumnal equinox. Perturbations like those that cause regression of the lunar nodes cause the precession of the equinoxes precession of the equinoxes, westward motion of the equinoxes along the ecliptic . This motion was first noted by Hipparchus c.120 B.C. The precession is due to the gravitational attraction of the moon and sun on the equatorial bulge of the earth, which causes the ..... Click the link for more information. . node(1) In a communications system, a node is a network junction or connection point. Every terminal, computer, hub and switch is a node.
node 1. the point on a plant stem from which the leaves or lateral branches grow 2. Physics a point at which the amplitude of one of the two kinds of displacement in a standing wave has zero or minimum value. Generally the other kind of displacement has its maximum value at this point 3. Maths a point at which two branches of a curve intersect, each branch having a distinct tangent 4. Maths Linguistics one of the objects of which a graph or a tree consists; vertex 5. Astronomy either of the two points at which the orbit of a body intersects the plane of the ecliptic. When the body moves from the south to the north side of the ecliptic it passes the ascending node and from the north to the south side it passes the descending node 6. Anatomy a. any natural bulge or swelling of a structure or part, such as those that occur along the course of a lymphatic vessel (lymph node) b. a finger joint or knuckle 7. Computing an interconnection point on a computer network node [nōd] (anatomy) A knob or protuberance. A small, rounded mass of tissue, such as a lymph node. (astronomy) One of two points at which the orbit of a planet, planetoid, or comet crosses the plane of the ecliptic. One of two points at which a satellite crosses the equatorial plane of its primary. (botany) A site on a plant stem at which leaves and axillary buds arise. (electricity) (electronics) A junction point within a network. (geology) That point along a fault at which the direction of apparent displacement changes. (industrial engineering) On a graphic presentation of a project, a symbol placed at the intersection of arrows that represent activities to identify the completion or start of an activity. (mathematics) (astronomy) (neuroscience) A point of constriction along a nerve. (physics) A point, line, or surface in a standing-wave system where some characteristic of the wave has essentially zero amplitude.
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