Celestial Navigation Terms

noun a height above a given level, especially the sea level

• The aircraft reached a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet.
• We hiked up to a high altitude and the view was breathtaking.
• I can't handle the altitude up here, I need to catch my breath.
• The company's profits reached new altitudes this quarter.

noun the apparent path of the sun in the sky, which is actually the plane of the Earth's orbit around the sun

• The ecliptic is the apparent path that the sun follows in the sky throughout the year.
• The ecliptic is like the sun's road in the sky.
• The ecliptic is basically the sun's groove in the sky.
• The ecliptic can be seen as the sun's dance floor in the celestial sphere.

noun guiding star - a star that provides direction or guidance, often used metaphorically to represent something or someone that provides guidance or inspiration

• The North Star has long been used as a guiding star for sailors navigating the seas.
• She's like my guiding star, always leading me in the right direction.
• My best friend is my guiding star, she always knows what's up.
• In times of uncertainty, music has been my guiding star, helping me find my way through life.

noun the distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees

adjective relating to or denoting regions or places that are far from the equator

• The ship's captain adjusted the course based on the latitude and longitude coordinates.
• Make sure you check the latitude on the map before heading out.
• I'm giving you some latitude to finish the project, but don't take too long.
• There is a wide latitude for interpretation when it comes to art.

noun a cardinal point of the compass, lying in the direction opposite to south and at right angles to east and west.

adjective situated or placed toward the north; directed or proceeding toward the north.

adverb toward or in the north.

• The North region of the country experiences colder temperatures during the winter months.
• I heard it's pretty chilly up North this time of year.
• The North is where all the cool kids hang out.
• She always heads North when she needs some time to think and reflect.

noun a point in the sky around which the stars appear to rotate, either the north celestial pole or the south celestial pole

• The celestial pole is the point in the sky directly above the Earth's axis.
• If you look up at the night sky, you can see the celestial pole as the fixed point around which the stars appear to rotate.
• I heard that if you follow the North Star, you'll find the celestial pole.
• In her eyes, he was the celestial pole that guided her through life's uncertainties.