Culmination

Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 3: Catarrh to Dion

Culmination, an astronomical term, signifying the passage of a star across the meridian. The star is then at the highest point (culmen) of its course; hence the name. The sun culminates at mid-day, or twelve o'clock, apparent solar time—which seldom agrees exactly with mean time, as shown by a watch or clock. The full moon culminates at midnight.

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