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the tropics and polar circles from each other; the hot zone is counted between the two tropics that are extended from one to the other, being about 47 degrees 2 minutes broad; the temperate zoues are extended from the tropics, on either side, to about 42 degrees 58 minutes, that is northward to the article circle, and southward to the antarctic circle and the two cold zones are each within those two small circles, having the poles for their centre.
The Poles of the world-two points exactly opposite to each other in the heavens, one in the north, the other in the south, the earth being in the midst, so that it seems to turn about as if it were borne up by them; therefore by some it is termed the axle-tree of the world, as if there was a line supposed to be drawn from one pole through the centre of the earth to the other, and the earth turning thereon: though Holy Writ tells us-"The Lord hangeth the earth upon nothing, it being upheld by his mighty power." The pole arctic, or north pole, is elevated above our horizon about 51 degrees, and the stars within that distance from it never set with us, but keep their course round it daily; so likewise those that are that distance from the south pole never rise with us, but perform their course in the like order.
Azimuths are supposed lines, or circles of distance from the meridian, drawn from the zenith to any degree, or two degrees of the horizon, or according to the 32 points of the mariner's compass, so that in travelling or sailing any way, supposing a circle to go from our zenith directly before us to the horizon, is the azimuth, called the vertical point, as well as the zenith.
Almicantharats, or Almadarats, or circles of Altitude, are imagined lines passing through the meridian parallel with the horizon.
The Sphere is a round body representing the
