diurnal motion

noun

The apparent westward rotation of the celestial sphere, along with the apparent westward revolution of celestial objects, around the celestial poles due to prograde (eastward) rotation of planet Earth relative to the seemingly fixed stars – completed once each sidereal day (about 23 hours, 56 minutes, 4 seconds).

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Meanings

noundiurnal motion (uncountable)
  1. uncountableastronomyThe apparent westward rotation of the celestial sphere, along with the apparent westward revolution of celestial objects, around the celestial poles due to prograde (eastward) rotation of planet Earth relative to the seemingly fixed stars – completed once each sidereal day (about 23 hours, 56 minutes, 4 seconds).
Cite this entry
APA

diurnal motion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diurnal%20motion

MLA

“diurnal motion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diurnal%20motion. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “diurnal motion,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diurnal%20motion.

Source: diurnal motion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.