| hour circle A great circle passing through the poles of the celestial sphere and intersecting the celestial equator at right angles. An hour circle is equivalent to a meridian on Earth and is used in describing the position of a celestial body with respect to an observer's celestial meridian. See more at hour angle. |
in astronomy, any great circle (similar to longitude) on the celestial sphere that passes through the celestial poles-i.e., is perpendicular to the celestial equator. The declination of a celestial object is measured along its hour circle. The hour circle that at any moment is passing through an observer's zenith is his meridian.