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right ascension definition

right ascension

Astron. the angular distance of the hour circle of a celestial body from the vernal equinox, measured eastward along the celestial equator and expressed in degrees (from 0 to 360) or, more commonly, in hours (from 0 to 24), minutes, and seconds: it is used with declination (sense ) to find an exact position in the sky: abbrev. RA

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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