celestial pole

noun

: either of the two points on the celestial sphere around which the diurnal rotation of the stars appears to take place

Examples of celestial pole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Since the titan creature coils around the north celestial pole, the meteors will come from the constellation Draco in the northern sky, and the best views will be in the Northern Hemisphere—including all across the U.S. As always, this astronomical event is best viewed from a dark sky area. Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 8 Oct. 2025 However, on account of the wobble of the Earth's axis (called precession), the celestial pole shifts as the centuries go by. Joe Rao, Space.com, 27 June 2025 Polaris marks the position of the north celestial pole. Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 8 June 2025 Over thousands of years, Earth’s axis of rotation has slowly shifted, altering the locations of the celestial poles—the points in the sky around which scientists map stars. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 May 2025 The Dwarf app includes an equator mode that aligns the unit with the celestial pole to cancel out the effects of the Earth's rotation on target tracking, for improved stability as well as accurate views in the Sky Atlas and object tracking accuracy. New Atlas, 28 Feb. 2025 But as night progresses, the sky swings 40 degrees beneath the northern celestial pole before beginning a slow rise into the northeastern sky, according to the AMS. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of celestial pole was in 1848

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Celestial pole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/celestial%20pole. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

celestial pole

noun
: one of two points on the celestial sphere around which the daily rotation of the stars appears to take place

More from Merriam-Webster on celestial pole

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!