For astronomy, the zenith is the point at which the vertical of an area intersects with the celestial sphere.
Zenith is a concept that is used in astronomy and that allows us to name the point at which the vertical of a space intersects with the celestial sphere . It is the highest point in the sky above the observer, 90 degrees from his or her head.
The vertical of said place, in this way, divides the celestial sphere into two points: the zenith (also known as zenith or zenith ) is the point that is just above the individual.
In other words, by extending the Earth's radius of the place where the person observing is located in both directions, the zenith would cut the celestial sphere at two points. Just as the zenith is the point above the observer, the opposite point is called the nadir . The nadir, therefore, is located below said hypothetical line (below the observer's feet).
The term zenith in different areas
The notion of zenith is also used to name the peak or peak of something or someone . For example: “With this new conquest, the boxer is at the zenith of his long career” , “I reached the zenith of my career at the age of twenty and, since then, everything went downhill” , “I think the zenith of the concert “It came with the last two songs.”
For optics , the zenith prism is the system whose most important component is a reflection prism that adapts to the astronomical eyepiece and, in this way, favors zenith observation.
Polar zenith , likewise, is a type of cryptography that consists of replacing the letters of the term “zenith” with the letters that form the expression “polar” in their respective positions. Letters that do not appear in these words remain unchanged. In this way, “water” is written “igui” under the polar zenith coding.
The notion of zenith can be linked to the idea of summit.
sun position
Another concept that could be closely linked to this is that of the zenith sun , which refers to the position that this star assumes when it is above the vertical of a certain place, which occurs precisely at noon.
The zenithal sun is only present in the intertropical regions (once in each) during the summer solstice. The days of zenith sun are equivalent to the equinoxes.
“Zenith” by Juan Ramón Jiménez
The Spanish poet Juan Ramón Jiménez , one of the most prominent of the Generation of '27 , wrote a poem he titled "Cénit." In it, the author makes a comparison between his own existence and the concept described above. That point where light and shadow merge and the perfect balance is found.
He indicates that only that day, referring to the day of his death , will he be able to be himself. When death embraces him and makes his half of light close with his half of shadow; When it finally is, he says:
«sometimes, my half-self, radiant;
others, my other half-self, in oblivion»
An analysis of this poem could lead us to analyze the maximum point of a person's existence, when they can no longer change, when they cease to be and become part of the world of shadows.
At first glance it may seem like a decadent poem that arises from sadness and the desire to die, however it would be more accurate to say that the poet tries to express the importance of personal search .
Possibly it refers to working hard to rebuild oneself so that, on the day when we can no longer begin again, when we die, what we see of ourselves is something that leaves us moderately satisfied , that places us very high, just to the center of where we stood in life, but much higher.