| opposition [´äp·ǝ`zish·ǝn] ASTRONOMY The situation of two celestial bodies having either celestial longitudes or sidereal hour angles differing by 180°; the term is usually used only in relation to the position of a superior planet or the moon with reference to the sun. PHYSICS The condition in which the phase difference between two periodic quantities having the same frequency is 180°, corresponding to one half-cycle. |