A period of social improvement, or of intellectual
advancement, contains within itself a principle of
acceleration. --I. Taylor.
(Astr. & Physics.)
{Acceleration of the moon}, the increase of the moon's mean
motion in its orbit, in consequence of which its period of
revolution is now shorter than in ancient times.
{Acceleration} and {retardation of the tides}. See {Priming
of the tides}, under {Priming}.
{Diurnal acceleration of the fixed stars}, the amount by
which their apparent diurnal motion exceeds that of the
sun, in consequence of which they daily come to the
meridian of any place about three minutes fifty-six
seconds of solar time earlier than on the day preceding.
{Acceleration of the planets}, the increasing velocity of
their motion, in proceeding from the apogee to the perigee
of their orbits.