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  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Equatorial  \E`qua*to"ri*al\,  a.  [Cf.  F.  ['e]quatorial.] 
  Of  or  pertaining  to  the  equator;  as  equatorial  climates; 
  also  pertaining  to  an  equatorial  instrument. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Equatorial  \E`qua*to"ri*al\,  n.  (Astron.) 
  An  instrument  consisting  of  a  telescope  so  mounted  as  to  have 
  two  axes  of  motion  at  right  angles  to  each  other  one  of  them 
  parallel  to  the  axis  of  the  earth,  and  each  carrying  a 
  graduated  circle,  the  one  for  measuring  declination,  and  the 
  other  right  ascension,  or  the  hour  angle,  so  that  the 
  telescope  may  be  directed,  even  in  the  daytime,  to  any  star 
  or  other  object  whose  right  ascension  and  declination  are 
  known  The  motion  in  right  ascension  is  sometimes 
  communicated  by  clockwork,  so  as  to  keep  the  object 
  constantly  in  the  field  of  the  telescope.  Called  also  an 
  {equatorial  telescope}. 
 
  Note:  The  term  equatorial,  or  equatorial  instrument,  is 
  sometimes  applied  to  any  astronomical  instrument  which 
  has  its  principal  axis  of  rotation  parallel  to  the  axis 
  of  the  earth. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  equatorial 
  adj  1:  of  or  relating  to  or  at  an  equator;  "equatorial  diameter 
  2:  of  or  relating  to  conditions  at  the  geographical  equator; 
  "equatorial  heat" 
  3:  of  or  existing  at  or  near  the  geographic  equator; 
  "equatorial  Africa"  [ant:  {polar}] 

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