physical astronomy

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

1.Of or pertaining to nature (as including all created existences); in accordance with the laws of nature; also, of or relating to natural or material things, or to the bodily structure, as opposed to things mental, moral, spiritual, or imaginary; material; natural; as, armies and navies are the physical force of a nation; the body is the physical part of man. [1913 Webster]

Labor, in the physical world, is . . . employed in putting objects in motion.— J. S. Mill.[1913 Webster]

A society sunk in ignorance, and ruled by mere physical force.— Macaulay.[1913 Webster]

2.Of or pertaining to physics, or natural philosophy; treating of, or relating to, the causes and connections of natural phenomena; as, physical science; physical laws. "Physical philosophy." --Pope. [1913 Webster]

3.Perceptible through a bodily or material organization; cognizable by the senses; external; as, the physical, opposed to chemical, characters of a mineral. [1913 Webster]

4.Of or pertaining to physic, or the art of medicine; medicinal; curative; healing; also, cathartic; purgative. [Obs.] "Physical herbs." --Sir T. North. [1913 Webster]

Is Brutus sick? and is it physical To walk unbraced, and suck up the humors Of the dank morning?— Shak.[1913 Webster]

Physical astronomy, that part of astronomy which treats of the causes of the celestial motions; specifically, that which treats of the motions resulting from universal gravitation.

Physical education, training of the bodily organs and powers with a view to the promotion of health and vigor.

Physical examination (Med.), an examination of the bodily condition of a person.

Physical geography. See under Geography.

Physical point, an indefinitely small portion of matter; a point conceived as being without extension, yet having physical properties, as weight, inertia, momentum, etc.; a material point.

Physical signs (Med.), the objective signs of the bodily state afforded by a physical examination. [1913 Webster]

1.Astrology. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck; And yet methinks I have astronomy.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.The science which treats of the celestial bodies, of their magnitudes, motions, distances, periods of revolution, eclipses, constitution, physical condition, and of the causes of their various phenomena. [1913 Webster]

3.A treatise on, or text-book of, the science. [1913 Webster]

Physical astronomy. See under Physical. [1913 Webster]