The angular distance of the moon from the sun, a planet, or a star, used in finding longitude at sea.
月球距离（从月球到太阳、某一行星或星体的夹角距离）
Example sentencesExamples
He proposed the method of lunar distances to determine longitude which was an important proposal.
Not by accident, he used Harrison's chronometer and lunar distances to calculate longitudes accurately.
For some years he had maintained a strong interest in, and advocacy of, the method of lunar distances for determining longitude.
During his editorship, Lalande added accurate tables of lunar distances from stars which were valuable in navigation.
Mayer's method of determining longitude by lunar distances and a formula for correcting errors in longitude due to atmospheric refraction were published in 1770 after his death.
Definition of lunar distance in US English:
lunar distance
noun
The angular distance of the moon from the sun, a planet, or a star, used in finding longitude at sea.
月球距离（从月球到太阳、某一行星或星体的夹角距离）
Example sentencesExamples
Mayer's method of determining longitude by lunar distances and a formula for correcting errors in longitude due to atmospheric refraction were published in 1770 after his death.
He proposed the method of lunar distances to determine longitude which was an important proposal.
During his editorship, Lalande added accurate tables of lunar distances from stars which were valuable in navigation.
For some years he had maintained a strong interest in, and advocacy of, the method of lunar distances for determining longitude.
Not by accident, he used Harrison's chronometer and lunar distances to calculate longitudes accurately.