Definition:Geographical Equator
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Definition
The (geographical) equator is the great circle described on the surface of Earth whose plane is perpendicular to Earth's axis of rotation.
Also known as
In common parlance, the geographical equator is usually referred to as just the equator.
The geographical descriptor is added so as to distinguish it from the celestial equator and the galactic equator.
It is also known as the terrestrial equator.
Also see
- Results about the geographical equator can be found here.
Sources
- 1933: D.M.Y. Sommerville: Analytical Conics (3rd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text I$. Coordinates: $2$. Coordinates
- 1976: W.M. Smart: Textbook on Spherical Astronomy (6th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text I$. Spherical Trigonometry: $4$. Terrestrial latitude and longitude.
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): geographical equator
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): geographical equator