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descending node.

Noun
Sci-FiSettingTechnical
MEANING

The point where an orbit crosses a reference plane from its north side to its south side.

Use it for

an orbit’s southward reference-plane crossing; precise navigation distinguished from falling altitude; the opposite crossing to the ascending node

Words that belong together

  • the descending node
  • cross the descending node

On the page

The satellite crossed the descending node while the ground station was out of range.
She marked the descending node on the same reference plane as the earlier solution.

Opposite meanings

ascending node

Related words

southward orbital crossingline of nodesascending node (contrast)
Word forms
Base
descending node

Explore related collections

Science-fiction vocabulary

Usage notes

Primary category: sci-fi. Forms: Singular descending node; plural descending nodes. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.

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