What is the simplest complete explanation of the meaning of azimuth?

Answer 1

It specifies a direction in degrees, measured eastwards from true north, which is 000 degrees.

So if a ship is sailing east its course is 090 degrees, if it's going west its course is 270 degrees.

Stars and planets up in the sky have an azimuth direction and also an elevation, also measured in degrees, but measured vertically above the horizon.

Answer 2

• The horizontal angular distance from a reference direction, usually the northern point of the horizon, to the point where a vertical circle through a celestial body intersects the horizon, usually measured clockwise. Sometimes the southern point is used as the reference direction, and the measurement is made clockwise through 360°.
• • The horizontal angle of the observer's bearing in surveying, measured clockwise from a referent direction, as from the north, or from a referent celestial body, usually Polaris.
  • The lateral deviation of a projectile or bomb.

Answer 3

An azimuthal is an alternative name in cartography for an azimuthal projection - a map projection which preserves direction for all points relative to a selected point.