ephemeris etymology

Etymology

The word "ephemeris" originates from the Greek word "ephemeros," which means "lasting for one day." It derives from the combination of two Greek words:

• "epi" meaning "upon" or "over"
• "hemera" meaning "day"

Meaning

An ephemeris is a record or table that provides data about the positions and motions of celestial bodies over time. It typically includes information such as:

• The daily or hourly positions of the planets, the Moon, and the Sun
• The times of sunrise and sunset
• The phases of the Moon
• The orbital elements of comets and asteroids

Origin

The use of ephemerides dates back to ancient times. Babylonian astronomers compiled ephemerides for the planets as early as the 7th century BCE. In the 2nd century CE, the Greek astronomer Claudius Ptolemy developed detailed ephemerides as part of his astronomical work, the "Almagest."

Modern ephemerides are generated using precise observations and mathematical calculations. They are used for various purposes, including:

• Navigation and astronomy
• Predicting the timing of astronomical events (e.g., eclipses, transits)
• Studying the dynamics of celestial bodies

ephemeris relate terms

• ephemera

  Etymology Ephemera is derived from the Late Latin word ephemerus which means lasting

• annual

  Etymology Latin annuālis Proto Indo European h₂étos Meaning Occurring once a

• culture

  Etymology and Meaning The word culture is derived from the Latin word colere which m

• orphan

• measure

  Etymology Measure derives from Old French mesure which ultimately originated from th

• indigenous

  Etymology The term indigenous comes from the Latin word indigena which means native

• conjunction

  Etymology The word conjunction comes from the Latin word conjunctio which means jo

• harlequin

  Etymology The word harlequin originates from the French word arlequin which in turn

• labyrinth

  Etymology and Origin of Labyrinth The word labyrinth comes from the ancient Greek wor

• persuasion

  Etymology Latin persuadere to persuade convince induce Proto Indo European per

• mask

  Etymology Middle English maske from Old French masque from Italian maschera from Ar