Lexell

[ lek-suh l ]

/ ˈlɛk səl /

noun

Astronomy. a comet that passed closer to the earth than any other comet (1770), but now has an orbit that is too distant from the earth for it to be observed.

Origin of Lexell

after Anders Jean Lexell (1740–84), Finnish-born mathematician, who calculated its orbit

Example sentences from the Web for lexell

This possibility seemed to be realized by Chandler's identification of Brooks's and Lexell's comet.

A Popular History of Astronomy During the Nineteenth Century |Agnes M. (Agnes Mary) Clerke
Its form and extent might be greatly changed after the manner of Lexell's comet.

The Asteroids |Daniel Kirkwood
The adventures of Lexell's comet have long served to exemplify the effects of Jupiter's despotic sway over such bodies.

A Popular History of Astronomy During the Nineteenth Century |Agnes M. (Agnes Mary) Clerke
A famous example of this kind of planetary horse-play is furnished by the story of Lexell's missing comet.

Curiosities of the Sky |Garrett Serviss

Lexell was the first to suspect that this was a new planet eighteen times as far from the sun as the earth is.

History of Astronomy |George Forbes

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

Lexell

noun

Origin of Lexell

Example sentences from the Web for lexell