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Glite Dictionary
celestial horizon

celestial horizon

9.0
An imaginary circle in the sky where the ground seems to meet the sky from where you are
  • noun
  • /səˈlɛstʃəl həˈraɪzən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : horizonte celeste
  • When observing the sky, the celestial horizon differs slightly from the visible, or sensible, horizon.

Examples

  • The celestial horizon is crucial when determining a star's altitude in navigational astronomy.

  • Early astronomers mapped the stars in relation to the celestial horizon to aid in navigation.

  • The celestial horizon is where the sky meets the Earth.

  • At sunset, the celestial horizon glows with vibrant colors.

  • Early astronomers mapped the stars in relation to the celestial horizon to aid in navigation.

  • The celestial horizon is crucial when determining a star's altitude in navigational astronomy.

  • When observing the sky, the celestial horizon differs slightly from the visible, or sensible, horizon.

Synonyms

horizon
vscelestial horizon
177 2.0

A line far away where the sky looks like it meets the earth or sea

is a geometric great circle with plane through Earth's center and the meeting line
sensible horizon
vscelestial horizon
7.6

A line where the sky and sea or land seem to meet when you look out

is a geometric great circle with plane through Earth's center and the meeting line
apparent horizon
vscelestial horizon
  • Specialized
6.7

The line where the sky and land or sea seem to meet

is a geometric great circle with plane through Earth's center and the meeting line
visible horizon
vscelestial horizon
4.1

The line where the earth and sky seem to meet

is a geometric great circle with plane through Earth's center and the meeting line

Surface Forms

celestial horizon singular
celestial horizons plural

Morphology

celestial + horizon

The meaning is directly compositional: 'celestial' (relating to the heavens or stars) modifies 'horizon' (the line where sky and earth meet), so a learner who knows both words can reasonably infer it refers to the horizon as applied to the sky/astronomical sphere. While the dictionary definition is more technical (great circle, observer's center), this technicality doesn't block basic inferability from the parts.

Etymology

Celestial horizon pictures the Earth's horizon lifted up into the sky as a wide circle that seems to meet the stars. So, it means the 'line' in the sky that we use to tell where a star or planet is.