What is "diurnal parallax"

Parallax \Par"al*lax\, n. [Gr. ? alternation, the mutual inclination of two lines forming an angle, fr. ? to change a little, go aside, deviate; para` beside, beyond + ? to change: cf. F. parallaxe. Cf. Parallel.]

1. The apparent displacement, or difference of position, of an object, as seen from two different stations, or points of view.

2. (Astron.) The apparent difference in position of a body (as the sun, or a star) as seen from some point on the earth's surface, and as seen from some other conventional point, as the earth's center or the sun.

3. (Astron.) The annual parallax. See annual parallax, below.

   Annual parallax, the greatest value of the heliocentric parallax, or the greatest annual apparent change of place of a body as seen from the earth and sun; it is equivalent to the parallax of an astronomical object which would be observed by taking observations of the object at two different points one astronomical unit (the distance of the Earth from the sun) apart, if the line joining the two observing points is perpendicular to the direction to the observed object; as, the annual parallax of a fixed star. The distance of an astronomical object from the Earth is inversely proportional to the annual parallax. A star which has an annual parallax of one second of an arc is considered to be one parsec (3.26 light years) distant from the earth; a star with an annual parallax of one-hundredth second of an arc is 326 light years distant. See parsec in the vocabulary, and stellar parallax, below.

   Binocular parallax, the apparent difference in position of an object as seen separately by one eye, and then by the other, the head remaining unmoved.

   Diurnal parallax or Geocentric parallax, the parallax of a body with reference to the earth's center. This is the kind of parallax that is generally understood when the term is used without qualification.

   Heliocentric parallax, the parallax of a body with reference to the sun, or the angle subtended at the body by lines drawn from it to the earth and sun; as, the heliocentric parallax of a planet.

   Horizontal parallax, the geocentric parallx of a heavenly body when in the horizon, or the angle subtended at the body by the earth's radius.

   Optical parallax, the apparent displacement in position undergone by an object when viewed by either eye singly.
   --Brande & C.

   Parallax of the cross wires (of an optical instrument), their apparent displacement when the eye changes its position, caused by their not being exactly in the focus of the object glass.

   Stellar parallax, the annual parallax of a fixed star.

Diurnal \Di*ur"nal\, a. [L. diurnalis, fr. dies day. See Deity, and cf. Journal.]

1. Relating to the daytime; belonging to the period of daylight, distinguished from the night; -- opposed to nocturnal; as, diurnal heat; diurnal hours.

2. Daily; recurring every day; performed in a day; going through its changes in a day; constituting the measure of a day; as, a diurnal fever; a diurnal task; diurnal aberration, or diurnal parallax; the diurnal revolution of the earth.

   Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring.
   --Shak.

3. (Bot.) Opening during the day, and closing at night; -- said of flowers or leaves.

4. (Zo["o]l.) Active by day; -- applied especially to the eagles and hawks among raptorial birds, and to butterflies (Diurna) among insects.

   Diurnal aberration (Anat.), the aberration of light arising from the effect of the earth's rotation upon the apparent direction of motion of light.

   Diurnal arc, the arc described by the sun during the daytime or while above the horizon; hence, the arc described by the moon or a star from rising to setting.

   Diurnal circle, the apparent circle described by a celestial body in consequence of the earth's rotation.

   Diurnal motion of the earth, the motion of the earth upon its axis which is described in twenty-four hours.

   Diurnal motion of a heavenly body, that apparent motion of the heavenly body which is due to the earth's diurnal motion.

   Diurnal parallax. See under Parallax.

   Diurnal revolution of a planet, the motion of the planet upon its own axis which constitutes one complete revolution.

   Syn: See Daily.

n. the parallax of a celestial body using two points on the surface of the earth as the earth rotates [syn: geocentric parallax]