Which term refers to the passage of a celestial body over the meridian of a place or through the field of a telescope?

Which term refers to the passage of a celestial body over the meridian of a place or through the field of a telescope?

• A. Transit
• B. Meridional Crossing
• C. Elevation
• D. Azimuth

Answer: (A)

When a celestial body crosses the local meridian, it is passing the north–south line that runs through the observer’s zenith. This moment is called a transit. It’s the point of culmination for the object, usually giving its highest altitude in the sky for that day, and it’s exactly the moment you’d expect to see it move through a telescope’s field if you’re tracking it. Elevation describes how high the object is above the horizon, not the crossing itself. Azimuth is the compass direction along the horizon. Meridional crossing is not the standard term used in observational astronomy, while transit is the established term for this crossing of the meridian.

When a celestial body crosses the local meridian, it is passing the north–south line that runs through the observer’s zenith. This moment is called a transit. It’s the point of culmination for the object, usually giving its highest altitude in the sky for that day, and it’s exactly the moment you’d expect to see it move through a telescope’s field if you’re tracking it. Elevation describes how high the object is above the horizon, not the crossing itself. Azimuth is the compass direction along the horizon. Meridional crossing is not the standard term used in observational astronomy, while transit is the established term for this crossing of the meridian.