Angular Diameter - Non-circular Objects

Non-circular Objects

Many deep sky objects such as galaxies and nebulas are non-circular and are thus typically given two measures of diameter: Major Diameter and Minor Diameter. For example, the Small Magellanic Cloud has a visual apparent diameter of 5° 20′ × 3° 5′.

Read more about this topic:  Angular Diameter

Famous quotes containing the word objects:

    in the mind of man,
    A motion and a spirit, that impels
    All thinking things, all objects of all thought,
    And rolls through all things.
    William Wordsworth (1770–1850)