lunistice

May. 18th, 2007 07:25 am
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[personal profile] prettygoodword
lunistice - n., the points furthest north and south the moon reaches in its monthly revolution.


I may have used this one before, but I still like it. Formed from Latin roots by analogy from solstice -- luna, moon + sistere, to cause to stand. Plus bonus word:


libration - n., a very slow oscillation, real or apparent, of a satellite as viewed from the larger celestial body around which it revolves.


Especially the moon. Wikipedia has an excellent animation. From Latin lībrātio, oscillation, from lībrāre, to balance, from lībra, balance.

And that's our week of astrowords. Back next week with something more down-to-earth.

---L.

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