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right ascension

Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Right \Right\ (r[imac]t), a. [OE. right, riht, AS. riht; akin to
   D. regt, OS. & OHG. reht, G. recht, Dan. ret, Sw. r["a]tt,
   Icel. r["e]ttr, Goth. ra['i]hts, L. rectus, p. p. of regere
   to guide, rule; cf. Skr. [.r]ju straight, right. [root]115.
   Cf. {Adroit},{Alert}, {Correct}, {Dress}, {Regular},
   {Rector}, {Recto}, {Rectum}, {Regent}, {Region}, {Realm},
   {Rich}, {Royal}, {Rule}.]
   1. Straight; direct; not crooked; as, a right line. ``Right
      as any line.'' --Chaucer

   2. Upright; erect from a base; having an upright axis; not
      oblique; as, right ascension; a right pyramid or cone.

   3. Conformed to the constitution of man and the will of God,
      or to justice and equity; not deviating from the true and
      just; according with truth and duty; just; true.

            That which is conformable to the Supreme Rule is
            absolutely right, and is called right simply without
            relation to a special end.            --Whately.

   2. Fit; suitable; proper; correct; becoming; as, the right
      man in the right place; the right way from London to
      Oxford.

   5. Characterized by reality or genuineness; real; actual; not
      spurious. ``His right wife.'' --Chaucer.

            In this battle, . . . the Britons never more plainly
            manifested themselves to be right barbarians.
                                                  --Milton.

   6. According with truth; passing a true judgment; conforming
      to fact or intent; not mistaken or wrong; not erroneous;
      correct; as, this is the right faith.

            You are right, Justice, and you weigh this well.
                                                  --Shak.

            If there be no prospect beyond the grave, the
            inference is . . . right, ``Let us eat and drink,
            for to-morrow we die.''               --Locke.

   7. Most favorable or convenient; fortunate.

            The lady has been disappointed on the right side.
                                                  --Spectator.

   8. Of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which
      the muscular action is usually stronger than on the other
      side; -- opposed to left when used in reference to a part
      of the body; as, the right side, hand, arm. Also applied
      to the corresponding side of the lower animals.

            Became the sovereign's favorite, his right hand.
                                                  --Longfellow.

   Note: In designating the banks of a river, right and left are
         used always with reference to the position of one who
         is facing in the direction of the current's flow.

   9. Well placed, disposed, or adjusted; orderly; well
      regulated; correctly done.

   10. Designed to be placed or worn outward; as, the right side
       of a piece of cloth.

   {At right angles}, so as to form a right angle or right
      angles, as when one line crosses another perpendicularly.
      

   {Right and left}, in both or all directions. [Colloq.]

   {Right and left coupling} (Pipe fitting), a coupling the
      opposite ends of which are tapped for a right-handed screw
      and a left-handed screw, respectivelly.

   {Right angle}.
       (a) The angle formed by one line meeting another
           perpendicularly, as the angles ABD, DBC.
       (b) (Spherics) A spherical angle included between the
           axes of two great circles whose planes are
           perpendicular to each other.

   {Right ascension}. See under {Ascension}.

   {Right Center} (Politics), those members belonging to the
      Center in a legislative assembly who have sympathies with
      the Right on political questions. See {Center}, n., 5.

   {Right cone}, {Right cylinder}, {Right prism}, {Right
   pyramid} (Geom.), a cone, cylinder, prism, or pyramid, the
      axis of which is perpendicular to the base.

   {Right line}. See under {Line}.

   {Right sailing} (Naut.), sailing on one of the four cardinal
      points, so as to alter a ship's latitude or its longitude,
      but not both. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.

   {Right sphere} (Astron. & Geol.), a sphere in such a position
      that the equator cuts the horizon at right angles; in
      spherical projections, that position of the sphere in
      which the primitive plane coincides with the plane of the
      equator.

   Note: Right is used elliptically for it is right, what you
         say is right, true.

               ``Right,'' cries his lordship.     --Pope.

   Syn: Straight; direct; perpendicular; upright; lawful;
        rightful; true; correct; just; equitable; proper;
        suitable; becoming.

Ascension \As*cen"sion\, n. [F. ascension, L. ascensio, fr.
   ascendere. See {Ascend}.]
   1. The act of ascending; a rising; ascent.

   2. Specifically: The visible ascent of our Savior on the
      fortieth day after his resurrection. (--Acts i. 9.) Also,
      Ascension Day.

   3. An ascending or arising, as in distillation; also that
      which arises, as from distillation.

            Vaporous ascensions from the stomach. --Sir T.
                                                  Browne.

   {Ascension Day}, the Thursday but one before Whitsuntide, the
      day on which commemorated our Savior's ascension into
      heaven after his resurrection; -- called also {Holy
      Thursday}.

   {Right ascension} (Astron.), that degree of the equinoctial,
      counted from the beginning of Aries, which rises with a
      star, or other celestial body, in a right sphere; or the
      arc of the equator intercepted between the first point of
      Aries and that point of the equator that comes to the
      meridian with the star; -- expressed either in degrees or
      in time.

   {Oblique ascension} (Astron.), an arc of the equator,
      intercepted between the first point of Aries and that
      point of the equator which rises together with a star, in
      an oblique sphere; or the arc of the equator intercepted
      between the first point of Aries and that point of the
      equator that comes to the horizon with a star. It is
      little used in modern astronomy.

Source : WordNet®

right ascension
     n 1: (astronomy) the angular distance eastward along the
          celestial equator from the vernal equinox to the
          intersection of the hour circle that passes through the
          body; expressed in hours and minutes and second; used
          with declination to specify positions on the celestial
          sphere; "one hour of right ascension equals fifteen
          degrees" [syn: {RA}, {celestial longitude}]
     2: an arc of the celestial equator eastward from the vernal
        equinox
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