armillary sphere

noun

, Astronomy.

1. an ancient instrument consisting of an arrangement of rings, all of which are circles of the same sphere, used to show the relative positions of the celestial equator, ecliptic, and other circles on the celestial sphere.

armillary sphere

noun

1. a model of the celestial sphere consisting of rings representing the relative positions of the celestial equator, ecliptic, etc, used by early astronomers for determining the positions of stars

armillary sphere

/ är′mə-lĕr′ē,är-mĭl′ə-rē /

1. An early astronomical device made of fixed and movable rings representing circles of the celestial sphere, such as the ecliptic and the celestial equator. It was used as early as the third century bce as both a teaching instrument and an observational tool.

Word History and Origins

Origin of armillary sphere¹

First recorded in 1550–60

Example Sentences

Without a telescope, says Gysembergh, he must have used a sighting tube, known as a dioptra, or a mechanism called an armillary sphere.

From Scientific American

A crowded rink is a sweaty, wheeled armillary sphere.

From Washington Post

Static sculptures of Brahe’s so-called armillary sphere proliferate in public parks, but few if any allow for detailed measurements like the one in Santa Fe.

From Seattle Times

Ever heard of an armillary sphere, a radio latino or a theodolite?

From Washington Post

This steel-and-acrylic arrangement of mirrored circles and steel orbits suggests an armillary sphere laid flat; yet the X over the central circle is like the crosshairs in a gun sight.

From Wall Street Journal