ScienceAugust 16, 2026
equatorward
i-KWAY-ter-werd
Definition
Directed or moving toward the equator.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin word 'aequator' meaning 'one who makes equal' (referring to the line dividing the globe), combined with the Old English suffix '-ward' indicating a direction.
In the news
In this article, the term describes the physical expansion of the auroral oval, indicating how far toward the equator the lights were visible during the intense 1859 geomagnetic storm.
In 1859, a geomagnetic storm now called the Carrington Event lit up auroras bright enough to read a newspaper by in the Caribbean, set telegraph offices on fire from Boston to Paris, and let operators send messages after unplugging their batteries because th
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com