arcsecond

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɑːrksɛkənd/

Definition

A unit of angular measurement equal to one-sixtieth of an arcminute, or 1/3600th of a degree.

Examples

• The telescope was precise enough to resolve objects separated by less than a single arcsecond.

• Parallax measurements of nearby stars are typically expressed in units of milliarcseconds, which are thousandths of an arcsecond.

• Even a slight shift of one arcsecond in the telescope's alignment can lead to significant errors in deep-space imaging.

Synonyms of arcsecond

Words with a similar meaning to arcsecond:

• second
• angular second

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