noun Download 🔗Share The act of librating. Examples : "The moon's subtle libration allows us to see slightly more than half of its surface over time. " astronomy physics Chat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
noun Download 🔗Share The apparent wobble or variation in the visible side of the Moon that permanently faces the Earth, allowing observers on Earth to see, over a period of time, slightly more than half of the lunar surface. Examples : "Thanks to lunar libration, we can see a bit more than half of the Moon's surface over time, even though it always presents the same face to Earth. " astronomy space physics Chat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
noun Download 🔗Share (by extension) A similar rotational or orbital characteristic of some other celestial body. Examples : "Because the planet orbits so closely to its star, scientists were surprised to discover a slight libration in its rotation, suggesting a previously unknown interaction with a distant companion. " astronomy space science Chat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
noun Download 🔗Share A vibrational degree of freedom whereby a group of atoms partly rotates back and forth, similar to the Moon's motion. Examples : "In the crystal structure of the protein, a slight libration of the side chain allowed it to temporarily expose a hidden binding site. " physics astronomy chemistry Chat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading