sensible horizon

n. The plane that intersects an observer's position and is perpendicular to the line formed by the observer's nadir and zenith.

sensible horizon

n (Astronomy) See horizon^2a

ho•ri•zon

(həˈraɪ zən)

n. 1. the line or circle that forms the apparent boundary between earth and sky. 2. a. the small circle of the celestial sphere whose plane is tangent to the earth at the position of a given observer, or the plane of such a circle (sensible horizon). b. the great circle of the celestial sphere whose plane passes through the center of the earth and is parallel to the sensible horizon of a given position, or the plane of such a circle (celestial horizon). 3. the limit or range of perception, knowledge, or the like. 4. Usu., horizons. the scope of a person's interest, education, understanding, etc. 5. a thin, distinctive geological stratum useful for stratigraphic correlation. 6. any of the series of distinctive layers found in a vertical cross section of any well-developed soil. [1540–50; < Latin horizōn < Greek horízōn(kýklos) bounding (circle), present participle of horízein to bound, limit]

Thesaurus

Noun

sensible horizon - the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meetapparent horizon, horizon, visible horizon, skylinelinear perspective, perspective - the appearance of things relative to one another as determined by their distance from the viewerline - a spatial location defined by a real or imaginary unidimensional extent

sensible horizon

[′sen·sə·bəl hə′rīz·ən] (astronomy) That circle of the celestial sphere formed by the intersection of the celestial sphere and a plane through any point, such as the eye of an observer, and perpendicular to the zenith-nadir line.