2011-01-20

Nadir

Nadir is the celestial mechanics slightly longer word, borrowed from Arabic, for "down". Its strictly more technical than that, since 'down' is something referenced to perception and gravity, while nadir relates to geometry on the celestial sphere. I find it somewhat easier to think about nadir as being the opposite of Zenith. Zenith is the point directly overhead at any given location, orthogonal to a local horizontal reference plane. Nadir is along the same line, in the other direction.


Apart from a contraction of "s/he's not here" (s'nadir) - what else can we make it mean?

1 comment:

  1. A nerve toxin distilled from the shells of Brazil nuts, used to tip blow darts.

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