equator

Earth's equator. Credit: NASA

In general, the great circle on the surface of a body formed by the intersection of the surface with the plane passing through the center of the body perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

In the case of the Earth, the equator is an imaginary line drawn such that all points on it are equidistant from the north and south poles, i.e., it is the line circling the Earth at 0 degrees latitude, dividing the north and south hemispheres.

Related category

• CELESTIAL MECHANICS

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