Amplitude

Amplitude, in Astronomy, is the Amphora. distance of a heavenly body, at the time of its rising or setting, from the east or the west point of the horizon. When the sun is in the equator (i.e. at the time of either equinox), he rises exactly east, and sets exactly west, and therefore has no amplitude. His amplitude is at its maximum at midsummer, and again at midwinter; and that maximum depends upon the latitude of the place, being $23\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}^\backslash circ$ at the equator, and increasing to the Arctic Circle, where it becomes $90^\backslash circ$. The amplitude of a fixed star remains constant all the year round.