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Tropic of Capricorn

(Encyclopedia)Tropic of Capricorn, parallel of latitude at 23°30 south of the equator; it is the southern boundary of the tropics. This parallel marks the farthest point south at which the sun can be seen direc...

Tropic of Cancer

(Encyclopedia)Tropic of Cancer, parallel of latitude at 23°30 north of the equator; it is the northern boundary of the tropics. This parallel marks the farthest point north at which the sun can be seen directly...

solstice

(Encyclopedia)solstice sl´sts [key] [Lat.,=sun stands still], in astronomy, either of the two points on the ecliptic that lie midway between the equinoxes (separated from them by an angular distance of 90°). ...

Miller, Henry

(Encyclopedia)Miller, Henry, 1891–1980, American author, b. New York City. Miller sought to reestablish the freedom to live without the conventional restraints of civilization. His books are potpourris of sexual ...

Capricornus

(Encyclopedia)Capricornus kprkôr´ns [key] [Lat.,=the goat horn], inconspicuous southern constellation lying on the ecliptic (the sun's apparent path through the heavens) between Sagittarius and Aquarius; it...

Tasman, Abel Janszoon

(Encyclopedia)Tasman, Abel Janszoon ä´bl yän´sn tä´smän [key], 1603?–1659, Dutch navigator. In the service of the Dutch East India Company from c.1632 to 1653, he made several trading and exploring voy...

latitude

(Encyclopedia)latitude, angular distance of any point on the surface of the earth north or south of the equator. The equator is latitude 0°, and the North Pole and South Pole are latitudes 90°N and 90°S, respect...

tropics

(Encyclopedia)tropics, also called tropical zone or torrid zone, all the land and water of the earth situated between the Tropic of Cancer at lat. 23 12°N and the Tropic of Capricorn at lat. 23 12°S. Ever...

Amalthaea

(Encyclopedia)Amalthaea mlth´ [key], in Greek mythology, the stepmother of Zeus, a she-goat or nymph who nursed the infant Zeus. It was said that Zeus made one of her magnificent horns into the cornucopi...

Cancer

(Encyclopedia)Cancer [Lat.,=the crab], in astronomy, constellation lying on the ecliptic (the sun's apparent path through the heavens) between Gemini and Leo; it is a constellation of the zodiac. It contains the st...