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orientation

(Encyclopedia)orientation, in architecture, the disposition of the parts of a building with reference to the points of the compass. From remote antiquity the traditional belief in the efficacy of religious ceremoni...

Wang Ching-wei

(Encyclopedia)Wang Ching-wei wäng jĭng-wā [key], 1883–1944, Chinese revolutionary and political leader. A supporter of Sun Yat-sen, Wang was sentenced (1910) to life imprisonment for attempting to assassinate ...

solar system

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Solar system CE5 solar system, the sun and the surrounding planets, natural satellites, dwarf planets, asteroids, meteoroids, and comets that are bound by its gravity. The sun is by far the ...

Antarctic Circle

(Encyclopedia)Antarctic Circle, imaginary circle on the surface of the earth at 661⁄2°S lat., i.e., 231⁄2° north of the South Pole. It marks the southernmost point at which the sun can be seen at the winter s...

Arctic Circle

(Encyclopedia)Arctic Circle, imaginary circle on the surface of the earth at 661⁄2°N latitude, i.e., 231⁄2° south of the North Pole. It marks the northernmost point at which the sun can be seen at the winter ...

Venus, in astronomy

(Encyclopedia)Venus, in astronomy, 2d planet from the sun; it is often called the evening star or morning star and is brighter than any object in the sky except the sun and the moon. Because its orbit lies between ...

Sacramento, river, United States

(Encyclopedia)Sacramento, longest river of Calif., c.380 mi (610 km) long, rising near Mt. Shasta, N Calif., and flowing generally SW to Suisun Bay, an arm of San Francisco Bay, where it forms a large delta with th...

latitude

(Encyclopedia)latitude, angular distance of any point on the surface of the earth north or south of the equator. The equator is latitude 0°, and the North Pole and South Pole are latitudes 90°N and 90°S, respect...

Gudbrandsdalen

(Encyclopedia)Gudbrandsdalen go͝odˈbrändsdälˌĕn [key], valley region of Oppland co., S central Norway. It extends c.100 mi (160 km) from the Dovrefjell southeastward to Lillehammer on Mjøsa lake. A rich agri...

skin cancer

(Encyclopedia)skin cancer, malignant tumor of the skin. The most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Rarer forms include mycosis fungoides (a type of lymphom...