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libration

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
li·bra·tion  (l-brshn)
n.
A very slow oscillation, real or apparent, of a satellite as viewed from the larger celestial body around which it revolves.

[Latin lbrtio, lbrtin-, oscillation, from lbrtus, past participle of lbrre, to balance, from lbra, balance.]

li·bration·al adj.
libra·tory (-br-tôr, -tr) adj.

libration [laɪˈbreɪʃən]
n
1. the act or an instance of oscillating
2. (Astronomy) a real or apparent oscillation of the moon enabling approximately 59 per cent of the surface to be visible from the earth over a period of time
librational  adj
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.libration - (astronomy) a real or apparent slow oscillation of a moon or satellite; "the libration of the moon"
astronomy, uranology - the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole
variation - (astronomy) any perturbation of the mean motion or orbit of a planet or satellite (especially a perturbation of the earth's moon)
oscillation - the process of oscillating between states


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So, then the moon displays invariably the same face to the earth; nevertheless, to be quite exact, it is necessary to add that, in consequence of certain fluctuations of north and south, and of west and east, termed her libration, she permits rather more than half, that is to say, five-sevenths, to be seen.
 
 
 
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