substellar point

substellar point

(sub-stell -er) The point on the Earth's surface that lies directly beneath a star on the line connecting the center of Earth and star. The star would thus lie at the zenith of an observer at that point, the terrestrial latitude of which would equal the star's declination. The sublunar point and subsolar point are the equivalent points for the Moon and Sun, respectively.

Collins Dictionary of Astronomy © Market House Books Ltd, 2006

substellar point

[¦səb′stel·ər ′pȯint]

(astronomy)

The geographical position of a star; that point on the earth at which the star is in the zenith at a specified time. Also known as subastral point.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

substellar point

The point on the earth's surface where a line joining a heavenly body to the center of the earth cuts the earth's surface. It is the geographical position of the subpoint of the body and at any particular instant.

An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved