adjective
celestial
suh-LES-chul/səˈlestʃl/
Belonging to the sky or heavens.
The moon, ringed planet, and distant stars are celestial bodies.
Etymology
Latin caelestis described what belonged to the sky or heaven, covering both the visible heavens and the divine realm. That breadth survives in English uses for astronomical objects as well as heavenly beings.
In context
An eclipse is a moment of perfect alignment in space. It occurs when one celestial body moves into the shadow of another.
More examples
- Ancient sailors used celestial navigation.
- The painting surrounds the angel with celestial light.
- The chart shows the positions of several celestial bodies.
Similar words
- astronomical
- Specifically concerns objects and phenomena studied in astronomy.
- heavenly
- More often suggests divine nature or exceptional beauty.