small circle
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small circle
Any circle on the surface of a sphere that is not a great circle. It is the circular intersection on a sphere of any plane that does not pass through the center of the sphere.Collins Dictionary of Astronomy © Market House Books Ltd, 2006
small circle
[′smȯl ′sər·kəl] (geodesy)
A circle on the surface of the earth, the plane of which does not pass through the earth's center.
(mathematics)
The intersection of a sphere with a plane that does not pass through the center of the sphere.
(navigation)
A planned or accomplished route of travel which is generated by the intersection of a sphere and a plane which does not pass through the center of the sphere.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
small circle
A circle on the surface of the sphere (earth) whose plane does not pass through the center of the sphere. All parallels of latitude except the equator are small circles.
An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved